Land Rover takes the Defender to new heights with Fire & Ice editions
Land Rover Defender Fire & Ice editions – Click above for high-res image gallery
It doesn't get more back-to-basics than the Land Rover Defender. While most of the world's most hard-core off-roaders – Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes G-Wagen, Hummer H2 – have all gone luxed-out, the Defender soldiers on as the bare-bones option. Essentially the same body-on-frame design from 1948, the Defender is still hand-assembled. But what's Land Rover to do when the market demands luxury? Lux out the Defender, of course.
The limited-production Fire & Ice editions come packed with all the features they could fit in the Defender: Recaro buckets, leather and Alcantara trim, diamond-turned alloys, color-coded head- and tail- lights, glass sunroof panel, running boards and more. The Fire edition comes in a special Vesuvius Orange metallic paint, the Ice edition in Alaska white, both offset by Santorini black accents. All that kit drives the price of the special Land Rover up to €68,400, the equivalent of about $95,000. Just 850 examples will be on offer in various markets across Europe, China and in South Africa. Check out the high-res images in the gallery below for all the angles.
[Source: Land Rover]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
abbas350 4:15PM (6/09/2009)
dude... badass
Reply
Level 4:19PM (6/09/2009)
the funny thing is it's bare bones yes old platform yes and it still cost more then a rang rover sport with all the amenities...that has always puzzled me with cars..
Reply
LDMAN 4:22PM (6/09/2009)
Anathema! Is nothing sacred, anymore? A black colour floating roof! Where has the heritage gone?
Defender Product Managers do not have a clue anymore. Long gone are the days of real Defender Product Managers, the likes Chris S.... who understood everything about Defender and the Land Rover brand.
Is anyone listening? It is the engine (and the manual gearbox) that needs to be looked at. The Old Dog needs balls, again. A nice AJ-V8 SC V8 would do just fine. As for this Fire and Ice emasculated travesty job , for half the asking price you can get yourself the real thing, a NAS 90 and spend the change on fully refurbishing it.
Reply
Aprime 4:26PM (6/09/2009)
Where has it gone?
India.
Bloke 9:20AM (6/10/2009)
It hasn't gone to India. LR is a British company and the product management is completed at LR in the UK. The company's parent is based in India. They simply own the share certificates.
Cellien 4:25PM (6/09/2009)
BUT OMFG, itz a gazzz guzzzzzller! China shoudlnt allow its people to buy such thingz!@
Reply
thehig 4:31PM (6/09/2009)
I like it. I just dont understand the price tag. Why cant they whip these out for under 40k?
Reply
inline6 6:08PM (6/09/2009)
The base models start at the equivalent of $32k US. This special addition is extremely special.
Robert112 4:35PM (6/09/2009)
The Defender and G-Class will always have a place in my heart.
Reply
Paul P. 4:41PM (6/09/2009)
I wish we could still get these stateside. A simple and functional interior, 2.4L diesel, 6-speed manual, locking differentials, and a 7,000+lb towing rating..........it's exactly what a real SUV should be. A real workhorse. Instead we only get Land Rover's over complicated and unreliable luxury boats.
Reply
Kumar 5:24PM (6/09/2009)
What you are describing would be a very miserly, utilitarian vehicle that would probably last quite a while. Unfortunately, no one would be able to sell it for a premium so they won't sell it to us at all.
It's too bad chrysler is so screwed right now, as a decent diesel in the 4 door unlimited with 6 speed manual would come close.
mcampasini 4:42PM (6/09/2009)
when i was a mechanic the first time i worked on a land rover i was amazed how strong these things are built even the lug nuts were huge compared to other road vehicles. very capable off road vehicles just wish i could afford one.
Reply
Franz 4:46PM (6/09/2009)
I definitely want one of these.
Reply
wynklehop 5:10PM (6/09/2009)
For 95K, I'll take a G Wagen over this.
Reply
Aubs 6:58PM (6/09/2009)
I'll take 2-3 original Hummers for the price of one of these, thank you very much. Or 3 Rubicon Unlimiteds, or 3 H3T's, or 3 G500's, 3 H3's, or 3 H2's, or one of each... well, you get the picture. I think the Defenders are cool, but I think they're just too expensive (and not really available here in the US anyway). However, I think this is the only Land Rover with armor underneath, so it's really the last one meant for off-road use (not sure the G-wagen has it anymore though either).
Reply
carztech 7:00PM (6/09/2009)
All I can say is AWESOME! I wish these were available in the states.
The current Land Rover Defender is still available in over 100 different configurations - short wheelbase, long wheelbase, four-door soft-top, two-door long wheelbase, six-door long wheelbase and so on and so on etc. etc. etc. You can get the Defender in a 6x6 too.
I've read on various forums that these custom Recaro seats are really comfortable. They are really what the Defender needs. I agree Land Rover needs to make the Range Rover's Supercharged petrol AJV8 available or at least the Range Rover's TDV8 as an option in Defender.
Reply
RLQ 7:04PM (6/09/2009)
I so want one of these.
Reply
Avinash machado 2:40AM (6/10/2009)
This is what "Tough As Nails" means.
Reply
LDMAN 3:16PM (6/10/2009)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEf0pKdyeyg