Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition Pays Tribute To A Legend

• The all-new Trophy Edition pays tribute to previous generation Trophy Defenders
• Only 250 SWB P400 Trophy Editions will be made
• All models get a yellow wrap featuring the classic Defender Trophy graphics and badging

The Land Rover Defender is an off-road icon. Like the Jeep Wrangler and Mercedes-Benz G-Class, it started life as a rugged military vehicle, transporting troops to the most inhospitable locations.

Still, the Defender’s reputation isn’t merely rooted in its military past. Much of its credibility comes from the Defender Trophy cars, a series of off-roaders that crossed the most challenging terrain imaginable. What you’re looking at here is a tribute to that: The Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition.

“The Defender Trophy Edition continues to embrace the spirit of adventure while honoring Land Rover’s rich and iconic heritage,” said Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America.

As with any decent special edition, only 250 will be made, all based on the Defender 90 P400. The 90 means it’s a shorty, while the 400 refers to the metric horses produced by its mild-hybrid assisted turbocharged inline-six.

The SWB Trophy Edition follows a little more than a year after the introduction of the four-door model.

This retro-inspired off-roader gets a unique new yellow wrap featuring the classic Defender Trophy graphics and badging, an Extended Black Exterior Pack, tow hitch, air suspension, Cold Climate Pack, Off-Road Pack, and Land Rover’s Advanced Off-Road Capability Pack.

Each of these packages is available for order on a regular Defender, but combining all the packages in one SUV should result in a hardcore off-roader. Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 is also standard, automatically detecting exterior driving conditions and adjusting the car’s setup accordingly. It can select the suitable driving mode and electronically lock and unlock the differentials without any help from the driver.

While these items make the Trophy Edition unstoppable off the beaten path, Land Rover also includes several valuable items that make overlanding easier. These features include a roof rack with extending ladder, an electric winch, mudflaps, an integrated air compressor, and thicker floor mats to keep those dirty feet off the car’s more sensitive parts.

The vehicle itself is all well and good, but a rig like this doesn’t amount to much without a bit of competition. That’s what made the original Trophy cars so special, after all.

So, your purchase of the $95,000 Trophy Edition Defender comes with the opportunity to enter the Defender Trophy Competition, a single-day event with up to 90 teams participating. Six waves of 15 teams will be allowed to enter on a first-come-first-serve basis. Entrants will face several on-and off-road challenges, including physical and team-building obstacles. Additionally, one-on-one off-road driving coaching will be available so you can put your new rig to the test within the confines of a certified Land Rover Experience Center.

“We look forward to welcoming our Defender Trophy Edition customers to put these vehicles to the test at the exclusive adventure competition while experiencing the breadth of capabilities inherent to the Defender,” said Eberhardt.