Automotive

Land Rover designs Defender for Rugby World Cup duties

Land Rover designs Defender for Rugby World Cup duties
The World Cup Defender's tour kicks off on June 10, and lasts for 100 days
The World Cup Defender's tour kicks off on June 10, and lasts for 100 days
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The Defender floated down the Thames in a giant rugby ball before its reveal
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The Defender floated down the Thames in a giant rugby ball before its reveal
The Defender will carry the Webb Ellis Cup around the UK and Ireland
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The Defender will carry the Webb Ellis Cup around the UK and Ireland
16-inch off road tires are designed to give the car a stronger stance
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16-inch off road tires are designed to give the car a stronger stance
The rear cabinet is climate controlled to ensure no fog gets in the way of the cup
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The rear cabinet is climate controlled to ensure no fog gets in the way of the cup
The World Cup Defender's tour kicks off on June 10, and lasts for 100 days
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The World Cup Defender's tour kicks off on June 10, and lasts for 100 days
Three different lighting setups are being used in the cabinet
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Three different lighting setups are being used in the cabinet
The cabinet's systems are controlled by a 10 inch Toshiba tablet
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The cabinet's systems are controlled by a 10 inch Toshiba tablet
Inside, the Defender is based on Autobiography spec cars
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Inside, the Defender is based on Autobiography spec cars
The rear cabinet glass is designed to cut down on glare
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The rear cabinet glass is designed to cut down on glare
Up front, the Defender is fitted with a winch
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Up front, the Defender is fitted with a winch
Special embroidery and piping set the Rugby World Cup Defender's interior apart
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Special embroidery and piping set the Rugby World Cup Defender's interior apart
The Rugby World Cup kicks off in September
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The Rugby World Cup kicks off in September
The Defender's cabinet is fitted with a 40-inch TV showing highlights from great Rugby games past
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The Defender's cabinet is fitted with a 40-inch TV showing highlights from great Rugby games past
Bright spotlights are a part of the Rugby World Cup car's upgrade package
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Bright spotlights are a part of the Rugby World Cup car's upgrade package
Just in case the big cup in the back didn't give away this car's significance...
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Just in case the big cup in the back didn't give away this car's significance...
The leather and embroidery are designed to make the cabin feel more luxurious than the pared-back layout of a standard Defender
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The leather and embroidery are designed to make the cabin feel more luxurious than the pared-back layout of a standard Defender
View gallery - 16 images

Land Rover has taken the wraps off a special edition Defender designed by its SVO team to carry the Rugby World Cup on its 100 day tour of the UK and Ireland. The vehicle sports a climate-controlled glass case to give rugby fans a crystal-clear view of the Webb Ellis Cup.

In making sure the Defender gives people a clear look at the Cup rain, hail or shine, Land Rover has fitted the car with a bespoke, climate controlled anti-glare glass cabinet designed to make sure there is no fogging or condensation inside. The cabinet's locking mechanism, climate system and the 40-inch television that sit in the back of the truck are controlled through a new app on a 10-inch Toshiba Encore tablet.

The Defender's cabinet is fitted with a 40-inch TV showing highlights from great Rugby games past
The Defender's cabinet is fitted with a 40-inch TV showing highlights from great Rugby games past

As well as being climate controlled, the cabinet is fitted with a lighting system capable of three different modes, while the TV will display significant moments from classic rugby matches to try and get people in the mood.

Inside, the Defender is kitted out like an Autobiography spec car, albeit with a number of World Cup specific touches to commemorate the occasion. The car's black leather seats are embroidered with the World Cup logo in the headrests, and gold stitching and blue piping also serve to raise the cabin's ambience beyond that of a normal, pared back Defender.

The vehicle itself is powered by Land Rover's 2.2-liter diesel coupled with a six speed manual gearbox, and has been fitted with extra off-road gear including a winch, aluminum sump guard and a raised air intake. Land Rover's SVO division also fitted the Defender with 16 inch off-road tires for a broader stance on the road.

The Defender floated down the Thames in a giant rugby ball before its reveal
The Defender floated down the Thames in a giant rugby ball before its reveal

Having floated down the river Thames in an 8.2 meter (27 ft) tall Rugby Ball, the Defender was unveiled at Tower Bridge.

Below is Land Rover's launch video for the Defender.

Source: Land Rover

View gallery - 16 images
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