Land Rover Defender LXV

Today is the 65th anniversary of the start of Series 1 Land Rover production, and to celebrate the firm has announced a special edition Land Rover Defender LXV.

Taking its name from '65' in roman numerals, the Defender LXV has been unveiled at the start of a celebration event held at the Packington Estate near Land Rover’s Solihull factory.

In the UK, the LXV will be limited to just 65 units, and they’ll all be based on the two-door Defender 90 Hard Top model. As with the standard Defender 90, the LXV will be powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine that develops 120bhp and 360Nm of torque. All cars come with a six-speed manual gearbox.

To make the LXV model stand out, Land Rover has added 16-inch Sawtooth alloy wheels, while all UK models come in Santorini Black with contrasting Corris Grey roof, grille and headlight surrounds.

The interior boasts full leather seats with LXV-embossed front headrests and unique orange contrast stitching on the seats, steering wheel and centre cubby compartment. Finishing the look is a union flag decal on the rear of the Defender.

Pricing in the UK will start from £28,765. The regular Defender 90 range starts at £24,260.

Land Rover has chosen the Packington Estate for its birthday celebration as it was the original test location for the 1947-48 Land Rover prototypes. The estate was used by Land Rover until the early 1970s, when the Range Rover was being developed.

Over 130 heritage Land Rover vehicles will be on display at the estate, including vehicles that showcase Land Rover firsts, including anti-lock brakes, adjustable air suspension, traction control, Hill Descent Control, Terrain Response and stop-start technologies.

The firm will also show off its latest models, including the new Range Rover Sport, its electric Defender and the forthcoming Evoque with a nine-speed gearbox.