Key Points: 1 of 100 Defender 90 Autobiography Models, Rimini Red and Santorini Black Colour Combination.

The Land Rover Defender is an iconic classic 4x4, developed from the original Land Rover series. A British equivalent of the Second World War-derived Willys Jeep, it gained a global reputation for durability due to its steel ladder chassis, aluminium alloy bodywork and detuned Rover engine. It incorporated significant changes compared to the traditional series Land Rovers, such as adopting coil springs front and rear, as well as a locking centre differential.

Production of the model began in 1983 as the Land Rover 110, a name which reflected the 110-inch wheelbase. The Land Rover 90, with 93-inch wheelbase, and Land Rover 127, with 127-inch wheelbase, soon followed. Major revisions came in 1990, 1998, 2007 and 2012.

Safety and emissions regulations due for introduction in 2015 meant that a complete redesign of the Defender was needed, the main change being fitment of a new 2.2-litre ‘ZSD-422’ variant of the Ford Duratorq engine, fitted with a diesel particulate filter for the first time. Although smaller than the existing 2.4-litre unit, the power and torque outputs remained unchanged, and the same six-speed gearbox was used.

In 2015, three special editions were released to mark the end of Defender production; 600 Adventure editions, 400 Heritage editions and just 100 Autobiography editions. The Autobiography is more powerful and refined than the standard car, and features a re-tuned engine with a 28bhp/40Nm power boost, two-tone bodywork, side steps, and silver exterior door handles. Inside, the cabin boasts extended Windsor leather, aluminium trim, heated seats, air conditioning and an Alpine stereo.