Land Rover Monthly December 2022

@busheditor I never thought that we would ever have an electric Defender on the cover of a magazine on my watch. Now that it has happened, I’m not surprised at all. When on holiday in Botswana a few weeks ago we were watching a young pride of lions hunt in the Chobe National Park. I was in a Toyota Land Cruiser and there must have been about ten other Cruisers nearby. There was also one lonely Land Rover Defender game viewer. As it crawled past us, I tried to listen to its sound in order to identify the engine – except for the crunch of rubber tyres on dirt tracks, it made no sound at all. I asked my guide about it and he confirmed that it was electric. Now…

THE Series I was unveiled to the public in 1948 at the Amsterdam Motor Show, and while 75 years of commitment to one partner would normally get you a diamond, Land Rover is marking its momentous anniversary with a special Limited Edition Defender. And no, there are no sparkly bits – this isn’t a Range Rover, after all. Available in 90 or 110 body styles, the Defender 75th Limited Edition has an exclusive exterior design theme with unique detailing, finished in none other than Grasmere Green, with complementary 20-inch wheels (shod in all-terrain rubber, of course). Completing the exterior enhancements are a unique 75 Years graphic, Ceres Silver bumpers and privacy glass. The cabin has received a similar treatment, with the Cross Car Beam finished in Grasmere Green Powder Coat…

SAY the words ‘barn find’ and you conjure up images of a rare classic car that’s been rediscovered after being stored for god knows how many years, and more often than not in derelict condition. Twisted Automotive has given the term a twist, if you’ll excuse the pun. And that’s because for the last six years it has been intentionally storing 16 Defender 110s, and now they’re up for grabs. So, they tick the boxes for rarity (they’re the last of the line) and they’re valuable, as one would expect from a barn find, but they’re in mint condition as they’ve been dry stored all that time and, well, not all that old really. It seems Twisted is a shrewd investor as well as a Defender specialist, because Charles Fawcett,…

ENGINE: TVS (forged steel crankshaft and conrods) or TTD (ECU upgrade with performance air filter, full stainless exhaust system from DPF back) CHASSIS: Twisted’s progressive suspension which incorporates dual-rate springs, custom shock absorbers and upgraded anti-roll bars. Performance six-pot front and four-pot rear brakes. Entire chassis is coated EXTERIOR: Twisted Classic 18in alloy wheels (available in different colours), shod in BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres, various billet items, Twisted stage one front end conversion, Lazer daytime running and driving light front bumper and steering guard, LED lighting all-round, colour-coded door mirrors black sidestep tops, painted crossmember with integrated towing electrics, full-width tubular step bumper INTERIOR: Stripped out, panels re-aligned and vehicle made thoroughly watertight, dual-layer soundproofing, premium black carpet, seats and key touch points trimmed in customer’s choice of leather and stitch…

IT’S rather apt that our cover car (see p36) has been electrified, following news this month that Everrati Advanced Technologies has partnered with Land Rover engineering company and security services supplier, Hobson Industries. An internationally-renowned engineering-based company established in 1987 by Peter Hobson – who served as a Royal Navy Naval Weapon Engineer – Hobson Industries offers through-life support for heritage Land Rover models, encompassing everything from parts supply to full vehicle builds. These include armoured and soft-skin variants, all of which have had ICE (internal combustion engine) powertrains… Up until now. As part of the new collaboration, Hobson Industries’ vehicle builds will benefit from EAT’s state-of-the-art electric powertrains – already proven in Everrati’s range of electrified classics, such as a Series IIA (boasting a 60kWh battery pack with a…

This one’s for you, Dad! MY name is Samantha Oxborough and I am a classically trained mezzo soprano. I am also the lady who sang our national anthem while standing on the back of an old Series Land Rover to officially open the 2022 Commonwealth Games. What an honour it was. The Land Rover’s number plate included the letters HRH. I would love to surprise my Dad by getting a picture of my already mentioned achievement into your lovely magazine. Dad has owned Land Rovers all his life and is very proud of his Defender with its galvanised chassis. I was featured on the front page of The Times newspaper, as you can see from the several attached pictures. I do hope that you are able to help me in…