Land Rover Defender is freshly minted for the 75th anniversary

• Next year marks 75 years since the first Land Rover, the Series I, was revealed to the public at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show.
  
• Memorable Defenderknown as the 75th Limited Edition, will be available in two- and four-door configurations, but will only come with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine.
• Standard features include a folding fabric roof and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, but the highlight is the Grasmere Green paint job exclusive to this model.

Introduced to a motoring public accustomed to austerity after the Second World War, the original Land Rover combined the driving qualities of a tractor with the comfort of a tin garden shed. It was a kind of Wellington boot on wheels, capable of everything from agricultural work to world exploration. Every early Land Rover exudes a deep sense of British daring. And maybe a little oil slick.

To celebrate the enduring charm of the original effort, Jaguar Land Rover has launched a commemorative edition of the current Defender. The modern Land Rover is a very different beast from its agricultural ancestor, like a high-rise apartment in posh London’s Hyde Park compared to a thatched shepherd’s cottage. That said, the new Defender is still charming, and that’s special.

75^thousandThe limited edition will be available in either 90 or 110 trims, with Land Rover terms for a short-wheelbase two-door version and a longer four-door version. Regardless of the number of doors, each will be equipped with a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine of the P400 class. A turbocharged and supercharged hybrid, this engine makes 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, as is, of course, all-wheel drive on demand.

Standard elements of the Defender 75 interior^thousand The limited edition is a combination of luxury and off-road intentions. There’s a retractable folding fabric roof for alfresco fun, and the center console is trimmed in abuse-resistant material. At the same time 75^thousand gets heated seats and a steering wheel, a head-up display, an upgraded stereo system and an 11.4-inch touchscreen for infotainment.

The real story is the paint that got the name Grasmere Green. Last time we saw this shade Heritage Edition Defenders, and is a direct link to early Land Rovers. The semi-institutional color seen in a 1950s British hospital is slightly lighter and less metallic than the green found elsewhere in the automotive landscape.

Heritage Edition Land Rover Defenders.

For 75^thousandLimited edition, the green color extends to painted wheels and interior accents. It’s still Veli on wheels. But really very good. Pricing is expected to be announced soon.