YOU SQUEEZE yourself into the snug bucket seat and fasten the full four point harness, a quick twist of the starter button and the Rover V8 burbles into life. A gentle prod of the accelerator produces a torque twitch from the engine and an exhaust note that leaves you beaming like the proverbial Cheshire cat. This is no ordinary Defender, in fact quite the opposite, this is an extraordinary vehicle. This is the Tomb Raider Defender.
The phenomenally successful Tomb Raider computer games have made it to Hollywood celluloid, with Angelina Jolie taking the role of cyber space hero Lara Croft. Land Rover's involvement in the movie comes in the shape of supplying several staring vehicles, and while all four model lines make an appearance, by far the most interesting vehicle and the one that has been attracting huge amounts of attention on the motor show circuit is Lara's Defender 110.
Land Rover were approached by the movie's director Simon West at the early stages of planning to see if they would be willing to provide a suitable vehicle.
"The Defender was the perfect choice to star as Lara's vehicle. The entire theme of the film is based on action and adventure, so Lara's vehicle had to be one rugged enough to match up to all the challenging stunts," said West.
As the Lara of cyber space also drives an old Land Rover, the tie-in would also provide a nice degree of continuity between the two versions. With Lara being as British as fish and chips, could she really drive anything else?

After much debate within the company it was decided that the movie would provide an excellent worldwide platform for displaying the action, adventure and individualism aspects of the marque, as well as raising the profile of Defender. The film’s producers provided a rough sketch and outline of what they wanted and the wizards at Special Vehicles (SV) got to work.
The original plan was to produce four vehicles to meet all the necessary filming requirements but, as the programme began to roll out, SV realised that two or possibly three would suffice. As the vehicles would never turn a wheel on the public road, Special Vehicles were able to give full rein to their imagination.
Work on the first vehicles began in August 2000 and the basis for the conversion would be two white Defender 110 Td5 High Capacity Pick-ups. The first task upon arrival at SV was to strip the vehicles down and prepare them for the conversion. Although a diesel would be the first choice for serious expedition work, this, however, is film land and a car that performs and sounds as well as it looks is an essential requirement.
Out came the Td5 and in went the venerable Rover V8, in this case a couple of fuel injected 3.9 litre engines that Power Train Operations had surplus from a recent contract. Also changed was the manual transmission, replaced with the four speed ZF unit from the Discovery. A modified exhaust system – basically one from which the silencer boxes have been removed – gives the vehicle the requisite beefy exhaust note.
With the mechanical specification settled, SV turned to the all important aesthetic aspects of the vehicle and, with just a rough sketch and the general outline of what the producers were looking for, the lads at SV were able to let their imaginations run wild. As I was told: "All those bits we had left over in the stores, we could finally get to use!"
The first job was to remove the cab and the rear bulkhead. A specially built roll cage would provide the necessary cab stiffness as well as providing the main distinguishing visual feature. The unit encompasses the windscreen and the cab area, before sloping back into the load bed. Mounted directly to the cage is a roof rack, spare wheel – one of two on the vehicle, the other being bonnet mounted. A bank of four safari lights, pioneer axe, 'scroll tube' and twin scuba tanks complete the roof rack apparel.

Other modifications include fitting military specification half doors, front mounted Superwinch Husky and bull bar with additional driving lights along with a black painted version of the Heritage grille, all of which combine to give Lara ’s Defender a distinctive appearance. A full pioneer tool kit, snorkel, modified rock sliders, complete with Jate rings, and demountable winch mounting points are coupled with body-mounted sand ladders. At the rear there is a demountable Warn M600 winch and a jerry can mounted to the rear tailgate, along with twin whip aerials which complete the bolt on goodies.
Bodywork has been painted dark grey. Although referred to as Bonatti Grey, the film vehicles are a slightly darker shade than the normal production paint finish. As a final finisher there are wing top protectors along with chequer plate trim on the side runners and bumper.
It is on the inside that SV have indulged themselves the most. Out went just about the entire standard Defender interior, to be replaced by a custom-built version that draws heavily on several recent military contracts. Fashioned in a combination of polished plain aluminium and chequer plate, the interior looks stunning. The all aluminium dashboard has a custom instrument pod situated directly behind the steering wheel and this also houses the starter button along with space for Lara's Ericsson weather proof mobile phone. A pull out foldable tray houses her Sony Vio laptop. A traditional magnetic compass provides navigation if the electronics fail her and the floor and doors have been covered in chequer plate. Banks of switches were added, though these are purely for show.
As a final finisher, a traditional metal Land Rover oval badge has been riveted to the dash, leaving no one under any illusions as to this vehicle’s DNA.
With the normal High Cap bulkhead removed, the opportunity was taken to mount the seats slightly further back than standard. New Recaro bucket seats, specially trimmed and finished with the Special Vehicles logo, and full four point harness provide comfort and protection to both driver and passenger alike.

Completing the interior are twin flask holders for those all important tea breaks between fighting villains and saving the world. A cargo net separates the load bay from the cab and net pockets suspended from the roof rack and on the doors provide storage for all of Lara's maps and nick-knacks.
The first two completed vehicles were handed over to Action Cars who would tend them for the duration of filming and would also complete the transformation of the Defenders by dressing them ready for filming. This involved filling the load bed with equipment and storage boxes all tagged with 'Property of Lara Croft'. In the cab there are maps, a radio and first aid kit, and all the clutter that gives the impression that this really is someone's vehicle out on expedition.
Produced by Paramount Pictures, filming of this 100 million dollar epic commenced last March, with studio work being done in Britain at Pinewood on the vast 007 stage. Much of the location filming was done in Iceland and in Cambodia, the first time an English-speaking movie has been shot in the country since 1965. As with most modern films, schedules and costs dictate that several aspects of the production are taking place simultaneously. As it is easier to fly the actors to the locations, planning the schedule for the props – in this case the Defender – becomes all important.
Part way through filming it became clear to the producers that there could be a need for a third vehicle to allow filming to be completed on time. An urgent request to SV saw them swing into action and work began on the last Tomb Raider Defender. This vehicle started life as a red 110 pickup, however they were unable to find an injected V8, so this particular vehicle is fitted with a 3.9 litre carburetted version of the engine. Thanks to some crafty work by SV the auto box was paired with the engine; in normal circumstances the gearbox electronics have to ‘talk’ to the engine injection system for it all to work. Just what the boys at SV have done they would not say, but it all works. And works very well too!
Visually the vehicle is virtually the same as the other two Defenders even down to it being fitted with the right props and, as filming has now finished, we here at LRM were allowed a day's play with this quite extraordinary vehicle.

Lowering yourself into the snug Recaro seat and fastening the four point harness, the acres of chequer plate, maps of Mongolia and the pioneer kit on the bonnet, give the impression that this Land Rover is ready for anything. A quick twist of the starter button, there is no key on this Defender, and you know that it really is.
With that modified exhaust, a blip on the throttle produces the sort of exhaust note that has heads turning and the driver beaming the very broadest of smiles. Slipping the car into drive and flooring the accelerator, that exhaust note becomes a crescendo. It’s the sort of noise I could listen to all day long – a TVR on steroids.
As Lara’s Defender has been stripped of much of its surplus weight, it’s pretty quick to drive and handles just as you would expect from a Defender. Off-road the 265 section BFGoodrich Mud Terrains made light work of Gaydon's demonstration track and all the mud we could find.
Such was the appeal of this car that, in spite of the fact that we had three vehicles to play with, Richard, Jenny Morgan and I were squabbling like little children over whose turn it was to drive. This Defender has grin factor 15 and I want one – so, I suspect, will many of you. To satisfy that little craving, Land Rover are launching a range of special edition Defender models produced by SV to coincide with the film's launch.
Sadly, none are V8 powered nor do they have an auto box option. But the two Td5 powered models, developed around the Defender 90 County Station Wagon and the 110 Double Cab, come with a host of special equipment and unique trim. These are the first limited edition models from Land Rover that tie into a movie, a fact, that I am sure will mark out these models for special attention from Land Rover enthusiasts.
Both come finished in Bonatti Grey and have painted deep dish alloy wheels with silver highlights and all-terrain tyres. A specially designed body-mounted roof rack support system is fitted (it’s not a roll cage) which comes with a deep basket rack incorporating four Safari lamps.
The rack on the 110 differs in that the supports extend into the load space and it is fitted with sloping buttresses, which mirror the cage on the film vehicle. On the 110 the load space and tailgate have been fully covered in chequer plate and both models have even more chequer plate on the wing tops, sills, side runners and a body protection kit. As a final finisher vehicles will come with a front sump guard and a North American Specification rear step.

But it is on the inside that SV have again endeavoured to be distinctive. On the 90 the rear bulkhead has been removed and the load space floor again plated over. Both models come with interior trim in an all-black finish, and unique seat facings in a new 'bobble trim' fabric tagged as ‘dotty’. The centre seat is removed and replaced with a cubby box that comes with cup holders and aluminium inserts.
Both the transfer and gearbox knobs are replaced with polished aluminium affairs. The standard front footwell mats are replaced with chequer plate with the Land Rover logo let into them in rubber.
As a finishing touch, both models have Tomb Raider Eye of the Triangle badging on the front wings which again reflects on of the major themes of the movie. Pewter-plated pressed copper, the badges are hand crafted by traditional craftsmen in Birmingham’s jewellery disctrict.
Six hundred 90s and three hundred and fifteen 110s will are being built and prices have been announced as £22,995 for the 90 and £23,995 for the Defender 110 Double Cab.