Land Rover reveals challenge-ready Defender Trophy Edition
Land Rover's Defender sub-brand has launched an 'expedition-ready specification' of the popular Defender 110 4WD SUV, celebrating the iconic British nameplate's return to global adventure challenges.
The 2026 Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition is available in two heritage-inspired colourways – Deep Sandglow Yellow or Keswick Green – and includes 'a range of curated expedition accessories that make the vehicle the perfect companion for every expedition'.
Powered by the 258kW D350 mild-hybrid 3.0-litre inline six turbo-diesel, the Defender Trophy Edition scores gloss black 20-inch alloys shod in all-terrain tyres, dark rear scuff plate and gloss black wheel arch protection, in addition to a front undershield in black.
Trophy decals feature on the bonnet and C-pillars, joined by Trophy rear badging if the special colours weren't enough of a giveaway. Inside, illuminated 'Trophy' treadplates are featured alongside Ebony Windsor leather seats, and a colour-matched cross car beam with laser-etched Trophy badging on the end caps.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The enhanced standard specification can be augmented by the available Trophy Kit option pack.
Included in the package are a range of genuine Defender accessories like the Expedition Roof Pack, a black deployable roof ladder and a gloss black side-mounted gear carrier.
Rounding out the Trophy Kit extra are Classic Mud Flaps front and rear, as well as a raised air intake – see snorkel.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Australia has confirmed the Defender 110 Trophy Edition for the Australian market, priced from $118,900 plus on-road costs. NSW drive-away pricing starts from $132,578.
The aforementioned Defender Trophy Kit package is priced from $9188 including fitment.
Orders for the Defender Trophy Edition are open now, with first deliveries expected during the fourth quarter of 2025.
Defender says the Trophy Edition is 'inspired by Trophy and Challenge events of the past but will create its own legacy across three demanding rounds of training and competition'.
The brand is launching its own Defender Trophy adventure competition in partnership with conservation partner Tusk, which has worked with the British off-road specialist for over 20 years.
Entrants will face obstacles as well as mental an physical challenges, described as 'a unique test of wit, willpower and teamwork. Epic Adventure, Greater Purpose'.
The competition will be hosted in Africa, with competitors scored individually but competing in pairs. In front of a global online audience, each challenge stage includes a series of driving, ingenuity and physical challenges, with finalists given 'the opportunity to leave a positive legacy with the people and places touched by Defender Trophy, by completing a unique Tusk conservation mission'.
Australia hasn't been included in the 2025-26 Defender Trophy competition, though Land Rover has confirmed keen Aussies will be invited to enter the 2026-27 challenge.
Last month Land Rover announced the MY26 Defender lineup, headlined by additional V8-powered variants in addition to a larger touchscreen infotainment system and minor cosmetic tweaks.
First deliveries will commence in October, with full pricing and specifications still to be announced – read more here.
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7NEWS
18 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Oscar Piastri immediately apologises after ‘pushing the boundaries' in fight for victory against Lando Norris
It was the moment the great McLaren battle could have all gone disastrously wrong. Oscar Piastri moved to pass McLaren team-mate Lando Norris but locked his wheels and veered perilously close to his championship rival. The Australian regained control to eventually finish immediately behind the British driver in an enthralling Austrian Grand Prix that tightened up the race to the world title. Piastri, who saw seven points chopped off his lead, which now stands at 15, said: 'It was a good battle. A bit on the edge at times and probably pushed the limits a bit far. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 'But that's what we're here to do: try and race each other and try and fight for wins. And that's what we did today. It was close for me, but not quite enough.' The moment, on lap 20, turn four, caused some angst among the McLaren management, who had to deal with Norris's more serious blunder in the previous race, in Montreal, when he collided with Piastri and put himself out of the running. This was not on the same level but team principal Andrea Stella praised Piastri's immediate accountability after the incident. Stella said: 'As soon as he crossed the finish line, he opened the radio and he said, 'Sorry for the situation in corner four. My bad. I know what I have to do'. We have come out stronger and even more united.' Piastri replied: 'I thought it was a fair comment. Locking up and missing the back of your teammate by not a lot is certainly pushing the boundaries. So, even if I hadn't been told anything, I didn't think it was a wise decision to try that one again. So, a fair comment.' The race-long duel made for gripping viewing, a point not lost on Piastri, who said: '(It was) intense. I hope it was good watching, because it was pretty hard work from the car. I tried my absolute best, and probably could have done a better job when I just got ahead momentarily. Norris called it a 'beautiful one-two' finish for the team. 'We had a great battle, that's for sure. A lot of stress, but a lot of fun. A nice battle, so well done to Oscar,' he added. 'Hopefully it was a nice one for everyone to watch but inside the car it was tough, especially when he was in DRS (drag reduction range). It was a perfect result for the team, a one-two is exactly what we want and we did it again so I'm very happy,' For Norris, this was full redemption after his Canadian nightmare. He said: 'There were a lot of laps where I was looking in my mirrors. We both want to race hard and fair and it goes both ways. We have to put Montreal behind us and behind me for sure. It is something I wish didn't happen but it was nice we could push to the limit here. 'There were some close moments but nothing that would make (team principal) Andrea (Stella) or the pit wall sweat too much.' It was very much the McLaren show and Christian Horner, the Red Bull chief, conceded Max Verstappen's bid to win a fifth consecutive world championship is all but over as he proclaimed a two-horse race for the title. Verstappen is 61 points behind Piastri and Horner said: 'The buffer they have is significant. It looks very much like a two-horse race. They (McLaren) have got a cushion to the rest of the field. 'What's truly impressive is when you look at how close Oscar is able to run behind Lando with a car fat on fuel, at the beginning of the race, and he's basically making love to his exhaust pipe lap after lap after lap and the tyres are not dying. 'That is their advantage. I can't see any other car that would be able to follow that closely and not grain the front tyres or the rear tyres.'
Perth Now
20 hours ago
- Perth Now
Norris cuts Piastri's lead with perfect win in Austria
Oscar Piastri's lead at the top of the world championship has been cut by seven points after the Australian followed home McLaren team-mate Lando Norris at a sun-scorched Austrian Grand Prix. It was redemption for Norris, who had been widely criticised after an attempt to pass Piastri at the Canadian Grand Prix earlier this month ended in a collision and his retirement from the race. The British driver scarcely put a wheel wrong across the weekend at Spielberg, taking pole position before resisting every challenge from Piastri in Sunday's race. Piastri now holds a 15-point lead over Norris after 11 of the 24 rounds, with the Briton preparing to put on a show on home tarmac at the British Grand Prix next weekend, where he will be aiming for his fourth win of the campaign. Charles Leclerc completed the podium for Ferrari, with teammate Lewis Hamilton fourth and George Russell fifth for Mercedes. Red Bull's four-times world champion Max Verstappen suffered his first retirement of the season, in his team's home race, after a first-lap collision with Mercedes' Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli. There was drama when the start of the race had to be aborted after Williams driver Carlos Sainz failed to get away during the formation lap. The race started after a 20-minute delay with all eyes on the battle up front between the McLaren pair. Piastri briefly inched ahead on lap 11 only for Norris to snatch back the lead almost immediately. It was nip-and-tuck before Piastri attempted a banzai dive at turn four on lap 20. Piastri locked his front-right tyre and came agonisingly close to sliding into Norris' car. McLaren promptly hauled in Norris for his first of two tyre changes. Piastri, perhaps as punishment, was left out on track with a flat-spotted tyre for four additional laps and was losing time, a signal that McLaren had seen enough. By the time Piastri emerged from his stop, Norris was six seconds up the road. "The feedback from the pit-wall was that the move into turn four was too marginal and we can't do that again," Piastri was told by his race engineer, Tom Stallard. Norris came in for his second stop with 18 laps remaining with a three-second lead. Piastri would stop the next time around and was then forced to take to the grass as he attempted to lap Alpine's Franco Colapinto in 14th. Piastri continued his charge and with 10 laps to go was back within two seconds. "I need some pace," Norris said. "Please help." But Piastri would not get a sniff as Norris took the chequered flag for his seventh career win 2.7 seconds clear. Norris said: "We had a great battle, that's for sure. It was a lot of fun, a lot of stress, but a nice battle. It was tricky, hot and tiring, but the perfect result as a team." Piastri said on the radio: "Sorry for my move at turn four, that was my bad." He added: "I tried my absolute best and I probably could have done a better job when I momentarily got ahead. "It was a bit on the edge, and I might have pushed a bit too far, but it was a good race and that is what we are here to do, to race each other and fight for wins." With PA
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Lotus denies plan to close UK factory
British sports car maker Lotus has denied reports it is considering closing its only UK plant, and shifting to the US. Multiple publications, including the BBC, Automotive News and the Financial Times, are reporting Lotus is contemplating closing its plant in Hethel, about 20 minutes south of Norwich. Lotus and parent Geely initially refused to comment on the reports, but on Saturday Lotus put out an official press statement: "Lotus Cars is continuing normal operations, and there are no plans to close the factory. We are actively exploring strategic options to enhance efficiency and ensure global competitiveness in the evolving market. "We have invested significantly in R&D and operations in the UK, over the past six years. Lotus remains committed to the UK, and its customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, as well as its proud British heritage." The company also said "the UK is the heart of the Lotus brand", while also noting the UK is its "largest commercial market in Europe". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Hethel, the company's only factory in the UK, currently produces the Emira coupe (below) for sale around the world. If Hethel is mothballed, Emira production may be moved to the Volvo's plant in Charleston, South Carolina, which currently underutilised. In a call with investors last week, Feng Qingfeng, CEO of Lotus Technology, said "localisation [of production in US] is a feasible plan" given President Trump's constantly changing tariff policy on foreign-made cars. Production at Hethel has been paused to since mid-May to manage supply chain issues related to US tariffs, and a halt in shipment of Emiras to the US. The Financial Times believes closure of Hethel could happen as early as 2026, and would see around 1300 people lose their jobs. The company's growing losses saw it already fire 270 people in April this year, following on from multiple rounds of job cuts over the last few years. Despite those job losses, Geely and Lotus said they were committed to the UK. Moving production from the UK to Volvo's plant in the US would allow Lotus to avoid the wildly fluctuating tariff situation in the US, one of the brand's key markets. Earlier this year President Trump announced tariffs on UK-built cars would rise from 2.5 per cent to 25 per cent, but this was quickly dropped to 10 per cent, but only for the first 100,000 vehicles per year, after the two nations completed a trade deal. Founded in 1952 by Colin Chapman, the company's ethos of simplifying and adding lightness has seen it produce many celebrated sports cars, but the firm has teetered on a financial knife-edge for decades. After Chapman's death, Lotus has been successively owned by GM, Romano Artioli (who at the time also owned Bugatti), and Malaysian automaker Proton. Current ownership of the storied sports car brand is a little complicated. Chinese automaker Geely — which also owns Volvo, Polestar, Lynk & Co, Zeekr, LEVC and Smart — bought a 51 per cent of Lotus from Proton in 2017. Geely then split the brand in two, with UK-based Lotus Cars responsible for the marque's sports cars, and a new firm Lotus Technology, based in Wuhan, China, in charge of expanding the brand into electric SUVs and sedans. In February 2024 Lotus Technology was floated by merging with a special purpose acquisition company backed by LVMH, the luxury conglomerate that owns Louis Vuitton, Moët & Chandon, Dior, Bulgari, TAG Heuer, and many others. This April, the companies announced Lotus Technology would buy out Geely's 51 per cent stake in Lotus. Although the brand's new EVs helped grow the brand's sales to 12,134 last year — a 74 per cent increase over 2023 — Lotus Technology has bled hundreds of millions of dollars in red ink, and its shares are down 84 per cent. Last year the 6862 Chinese-made Eletre SUVs and Emeya sedans (above) found new homes, while sales of the Emira were up 102 per cent to 5272. If Lotus does end manufacturing in Britain, it will follow other car makers in closing factories in the UK. In March this year Vauxhall closed its Luton factory, which once made Bedford vehicles, and most recently made the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro, Citroen Dispatch, and its many siblings. Prior to this Honda closed its Swindon plant in 2021, and Ford closed its engine factory in Bridgend, Wales in 2020. MORE: Everything Lotus Content originally sourced from: British sports car maker Lotus has denied reports it is considering closing its only UK plant, and shifting to the US. Multiple publications, including the BBC, Automotive News and the Financial Times, are reporting Lotus is contemplating closing its plant in Hethel, about 20 minutes south of Norwich. Lotus and parent Geely initially refused to comment on the reports, but on Saturday Lotus put out an official press statement: "Lotus Cars is continuing normal operations, and there are no plans to close the factory. We are actively exploring strategic options to enhance efficiency and ensure global competitiveness in the evolving market. "We have invested significantly in R&D and operations in the UK, over the past six years. Lotus remains committed to the UK, and its customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, as well as its proud British heritage." The company also said "the UK is the heart of the Lotus brand", while also noting the UK is its "largest commercial market in Europe". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Hethel, the company's only factory in the UK, currently produces the Emira coupe (below) for sale around the world. If Hethel is mothballed, Emira production may be moved to the Volvo's plant in Charleston, South Carolina, which currently underutilised. In a call with investors last week, Feng Qingfeng, CEO of Lotus Technology, said "localisation [of production in US] is a feasible plan" given President Trump's constantly changing tariff policy on foreign-made cars. Production at Hethel has been paused to since mid-May to manage supply chain issues related to US tariffs, and a halt in shipment of Emiras to the US. The Financial Times believes closure of Hethel could happen as early as 2026, and would see around 1300 people lose their jobs. The company's growing losses saw it already fire 270 people in April this year, following on from multiple rounds of job cuts over the last few years. Despite those job losses, Geely and Lotus said they were committed to the UK. Moving production from the UK to Volvo's plant in the US would allow Lotus to avoid the wildly fluctuating tariff situation in the US, one of the brand's key markets. Earlier this year President Trump announced tariffs on UK-built cars would rise from 2.5 per cent to 25 per cent, but this was quickly dropped to 10 per cent, but only for the first 100,000 vehicles per year, after the two nations completed a trade deal. Founded in 1952 by Colin Chapman, the company's ethos of simplifying and adding lightness has seen it produce many celebrated sports cars, but the firm has teetered on a financial knife-edge for decades. After Chapman's death, Lotus has been successively owned by GM, Romano Artioli (who at the time also owned Bugatti), and Malaysian automaker Proton. Current ownership of the storied sports car brand is a little complicated. Chinese automaker Geely — which also owns Volvo, Polestar, Lynk & Co, Zeekr, LEVC and Smart — bought a 51 per cent of Lotus from Proton in 2017. Geely then split the brand in two, with UK-based Lotus Cars responsible for the marque's sports cars, and a new firm Lotus Technology, based in Wuhan, China, in charge of expanding the brand into electric SUVs and sedans. In February 2024 Lotus Technology was floated by merging with a special purpose acquisition company backed by LVMH, the luxury conglomerate that owns Louis Vuitton, Moët & Chandon, Dior, Bulgari, TAG Heuer, and many others. This April, the companies announced Lotus Technology would buy out Geely's 51 per cent stake in Lotus. Although the brand's new EVs helped grow the brand's sales to 12,134 last year — a 74 per cent increase over 2023 — Lotus Technology has bled hundreds of millions of dollars in red ink, and its shares are down 84 per cent. Last year the 6862 Chinese-made Eletre SUVs and Emeya sedans (above) found new homes, while sales of the Emira were up 102 per cent to 5272. If Lotus does end manufacturing in Britain, it will follow other car makers in closing factories in the UK. In March this year Vauxhall closed its Luton factory, which once made Bedford vehicles, and most recently made the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro, Citroen Dispatch, and its many siblings. Prior to this Honda closed its Swindon plant in 2021, and Ford closed its engine factory in Bridgend, Wales in 2020. MORE: Everything Lotus Content originally sourced from: British sports car maker Lotus has denied reports it is considering closing its only UK plant, and shifting to the US. Multiple publications, including the BBC, Automotive News and the Financial Times, are reporting Lotus is contemplating closing its plant in Hethel, about 20 minutes south of Norwich. Lotus and parent Geely initially refused to comment on the reports, but on Saturday Lotus put out an official press statement: "Lotus Cars is continuing normal operations, and there are no plans to close the factory. We are actively exploring strategic options to enhance efficiency and ensure global competitiveness in the evolving market. "We have invested significantly in R&D and operations in the UK, over the past six years. Lotus remains committed to the UK, and its customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, as well as its proud British heritage." The company also said "the UK is the heart of the Lotus brand", while also noting the UK is its "largest commercial market in Europe". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Hethel, the company's only factory in the UK, currently produces the Emira coupe (below) for sale around the world. If Hethel is mothballed, Emira production may be moved to the Volvo's plant in Charleston, South Carolina, which currently underutilised. In a call with investors last week, Feng Qingfeng, CEO of Lotus Technology, said "localisation [of production in US] is a feasible plan" given President Trump's constantly changing tariff policy on foreign-made cars. Production at Hethel has been paused to since mid-May to manage supply chain issues related to US tariffs, and a halt in shipment of Emiras to the US. The Financial Times believes closure of Hethel could happen as early as 2026, and would see around 1300 people lose their jobs. The company's growing losses saw it already fire 270 people in April this year, following on from multiple rounds of job cuts over the last few years. Despite those job losses, Geely and Lotus said they were committed to the UK. Moving production from the UK to Volvo's plant in the US would allow Lotus to avoid the wildly fluctuating tariff situation in the US, one of the brand's key markets. Earlier this year President Trump announced tariffs on UK-built cars would rise from 2.5 per cent to 25 per cent, but this was quickly dropped to 10 per cent, but only for the first 100,000 vehicles per year, after the two nations completed a trade deal. Founded in 1952 by Colin Chapman, the company's ethos of simplifying and adding lightness has seen it produce many celebrated sports cars, but the firm has teetered on a financial knife-edge for decades. After Chapman's death, Lotus has been successively owned by GM, Romano Artioli (who at the time also owned Bugatti), and Malaysian automaker Proton. Current ownership of the storied sports car brand is a little complicated. Chinese automaker Geely — which also owns Volvo, Polestar, Lynk & Co, Zeekr, LEVC and Smart — bought a 51 per cent of Lotus from Proton in 2017. Geely then split the brand in two, with UK-based Lotus Cars responsible for the marque's sports cars, and a new firm Lotus Technology, based in Wuhan, China, in charge of expanding the brand into electric SUVs and sedans. In February 2024 Lotus Technology was floated by merging with a special purpose acquisition company backed by LVMH, the luxury conglomerate that owns Louis Vuitton, Moët & Chandon, Dior, Bulgari, TAG Heuer, and many others. This April, the companies announced Lotus Technology would buy out Geely's 51 per cent stake in Lotus. Although the brand's new EVs helped grow the brand's sales to 12,134 last year — a 74 per cent increase over 2023 — Lotus Technology has bled hundreds of millions of dollars in red ink, and its shares are down 84 per cent. Last year the 6862 Chinese-made Eletre SUVs and Emeya sedans (above) found new homes, while sales of the Emira were up 102 per cent to 5272. If Lotus does end manufacturing in Britain, it will follow other car makers in closing factories in the UK. In March this year Vauxhall closed its Luton factory, which once made Bedford vehicles, and most recently made the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro, Citroen Dispatch, and its many siblings. Prior to this Honda closed its Swindon plant in 2021, and Ford closed its engine factory in Bridgend, Wales in 2020. MORE: Everything Lotus Content originally sourced from: British sports car maker Lotus has denied reports it is considering closing its only UK plant, and shifting to the US. Multiple publications, including the BBC, Automotive News and the Financial Times, are reporting Lotus is contemplating closing its plant in Hethel, about 20 minutes south of Norwich. Lotus and parent Geely initially refused to comment on the reports, but on Saturday Lotus put out an official press statement: "Lotus Cars is continuing normal operations, and there are no plans to close the factory. We are actively exploring strategic options to enhance efficiency and ensure global competitiveness in the evolving market. "We have invested significantly in R&D and operations in the UK, over the past six years. Lotus remains committed to the UK, and its customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, as well as its proud British heritage." The company also said "the UK is the heart of the Lotus brand", while also noting the UK is its "largest commercial market in Europe". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Hethel, the company's only factory in the UK, currently produces the Emira coupe (below) for sale around the world. If Hethel is mothballed, Emira production may be moved to the Volvo's plant in Charleston, South Carolina, which currently underutilised. In a call with investors last week, Feng Qingfeng, CEO of Lotus Technology, said "localisation [of production in US] is a feasible plan" given President Trump's constantly changing tariff policy on foreign-made cars. Production at Hethel has been paused to since mid-May to manage supply chain issues related to US tariffs, and a halt in shipment of Emiras to the US. The Financial Times believes closure of Hethel could happen as early as 2026, and would see around 1300 people lose their jobs. The company's growing losses saw it already fire 270 people in April this year, following on from multiple rounds of job cuts over the last few years. Despite those job losses, Geely and Lotus said they were committed to the UK. Moving production from the UK to Volvo's plant in the US would allow Lotus to avoid the wildly fluctuating tariff situation in the US, one of the brand's key markets. Earlier this year President Trump announced tariffs on UK-built cars would rise from 2.5 per cent to 25 per cent, but this was quickly dropped to 10 per cent, but only for the first 100,000 vehicles per year, after the two nations completed a trade deal. Founded in 1952 by Colin Chapman, the company's ethos of simplifying and adding lightness has seen it produce many celebrated sports cars, but the firm has teetered on a financial knife-edge for decades. After Chapman's death, Lotus has been successively owned by GM, Romano Artioli (who at the time also owned Bugatti), and Malaysian automaker Proton. Current ownership of the storied sports car brand is a little complicated. Chinese automaker Geely — which also owns Volvo, Polestar, Lynk & Co, Zeekr, LEVC and Smart — bought a 51 per cent of Lotus from Proton in 2017. Geely then split the brand in two, with UK-based Lotus Cars responsible for the marque's sports cars, and a new firm Lotus Technology, based in Wuhan, China, in charge of expanding the brand into electric SUVs and sedans. In February 2024 Lotus Technology was floated by merging with a special purpose acquisition company backed by LVMH, the luxury conglomerate that owns Louis Vuitton, Moët & Chandon, Dior, Bulgari, TAG Heuer, and many others. This April, the companies announced Lotus Technology would buy out Geely's 51 per cent stake in Lotus. Although the brand's new EVs helped grow the brand's sales to 12,134 last year — a 74 per cent increase over 2023 — Lotus Technology has bled hundreds of millions of dollars in red ink, and its shares are down 84 per cent. Last year the 6862 Chinese-made Eletre SUVs and Emeya sedans (above) found new homes, while sales of the Emira were up 102 per cent to 5272. If Lotus does end manufacturing in Britain, it will follow other car makers in closing factories in the UK. In March this year Vauxhall closed its Luton factory, which once made Bedford vehicles, and most recently made the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro, Citroen Dispatch, and its many siblings. Prior to this Honda closed its Swindon plant in 2021, and Ford closed its engine factory in Bridgend, Wales in 2020. MORE: Everything Lotus Content originally sourced from:
