The Adventure-Ready Defender

Land Rover’s latest special edition Defender pays tribute to a legendary off-road competition. And while so many automakers try to harken back to “the good ol’ days of motoring,” this is no marketing gimmick.

The new Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition—a U.S.-exclusive, limited-edition model announced on Thursday—takes inspiration from the mythical Camel Trophy off-road competition that ran from 1980 to 2000. According to InsideHook, that's obvious from the vehicles' color scheme, evoking the Sandglow yellow that signified Camel Trophy entrants, even if Land Rover doesn't mention Camel, the cigarette sponsor of the original competition, by name.

Road & Track reports you get a tow hitch receiver, air suspension, cold climate package, and both off-road packages available on the truck as standard. You also get a roof rack, extra underbody protection, a deployable ladder, an integrated air compressor, and deep-sided rubber floor mats. You can even option a winch if you plan to do some serious off-road trekking.

Even cooler, every SUV will come with a two-person entry to a one-day Land Rover U.S. Trophy Competition off-roading event. Owners will compete in on- and off-road challenges with the help of professional coaches, and the winning team, determined by a panel of judges, will get invited to the the Land Rover Trophy Competition at Eastnor Castle in England early next year.