Land Rover announced today that its New Defender 110 will make its world debut in the 25th official James Bond film, No Time To Die. Stunt Coordinator Lee Morrison explained that this did not occur due to some product placement decision, though. He insisted that his stunt team put the Defender 110 through its paces to make sure it was capable of the extreme off-road conditions that the director had planned.
Making the grade
Lee Morrison explained, “Designing and coordinating the action sequences for the Bond franchise requires a non-compromising mindset. We needed an unstoppable vehicle to help us battle against the elements, steep descents and river crossings. Fortunately, the new Defender 110 met expectations. I’m beyond impressed that the Defender did so well!”
Essentially a stock vehicle
Off the production line, Land Rover of North Dade (FL) said the New Defender 110 offers some mighty impressive off-road specs. It provides ground clearance of 11.5-in and approach, breakover and departure angles of 38, 28 and 40 degrees respectively. For the water fording set, its maximum wading depth of 35.4-in is supported by a new Terrain Response 2 system.
Some cosmetics were involved
Land Rover worked closely with Special Effects and Action Vehicles Supervisor Chris Corbould on the specifications of the Defender vehicles in the film. The vehicles are essentially stock but with cosmetic modifications. The screen-used vehicles were painted in Santorini Black with darkened skid pans, and are fitted with 20in dark finish wheels and professional off-road tires. The vehicles were built at Jaguar Land Rover’s new production facility in Nitra, Slovakia.
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A favorite in Bond films
Britain’s biggest vehicle manufacturer has a long-standing partnership with EON Productions on the Bond films, which began in 1983 when a Range Rover Convertible appeared in the film Octopussy. In No Time To Die, movie goers will see not only the new Defender 110 in action but also the Range Rover Sport SVR, Land Rover Series III and Range Rover Classic.
Daniel Craig Returns
No Time To Die is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his fifth film as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007. The film will be released globally in cinemas from April 2, 2020 in the U.K. through Universal Pictures International and in the U.S on April 10, from Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios via their United Artists banner.
The Defender 110 will be priced from $49,900 in the U.S. and will go on sale in Spring 2020. The Defender 90 body style will be available later in the year 2020.
