- Bespoke Defender created by Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations team
- Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender will carry the prestigious Webb Ellis Cup on the 100‑day Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour around the UK and Ireland
- Vehicle features an illuminated trophy cabinet, with state‑of‑the‑art technology to control temperature and lighting to ensure Webb Ellis Cup is visible at all times
- Land Rover is a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015 and Official Vehicle Partner for the tournament
WATCH THE REVEAL FILM ON YOUTUBE HERE
London, UK, May 22 2015 ‑ Land Rover has today revealed the Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender, a modified 110 Station Wagon created to transport the Webb Ellis Cup on the 100‑day Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour across the UK and Ireland, delivered by England Rugby 2015.
Land Rover is a Worldwide Partner of this year's international Rugby World Cup and has created a very special Defender worthy of custodianship of rugby's most instantly recognisable icon ‑ the Webb Ellis Cup.
The specially‑modified 110 Defender Station Wagon was developed and built by Jaguar Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations division at its headquarters at Oxford Road HQ in Ryton, UK. The Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender has been designed to safely and securely display the Webb Ellis Cup, while it travels across the UK and Ireland during the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour.
The Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender made waves today as Land Rover unveiled the vehicle in spectacular fashion at Tower Bridge in London where it emerged, from a giant rugby ball, driven by Land Rover Ambassador and Rugby World Cup 2003 winner, Lewis Moody. The 8.2m high ball floated 25 miles up the River Thames from Tilbury Dock on Thursday, passing iconic London landmarks such as the Thames Barrier and Canary Wharf along the way.
The focal point of the Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender is the bespoke Trophy cabinet to the rear of the vehicle. A one‑of‑a‑kind Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender App has been developed specifically for the purpose of controlling the high‑specification technology within the Trophy cabinet ‑ making sure that conditions are just right. Lighting, temperature, the locking mechanism that secures the Webb Ellis Cup and the 40‑inch flat‑screen Toshiba television are all controlled through the App on a 10" Toshiba Windows Tablet which acts as the interface. The Trophy cabinet is also protected with toughened security glazing.
The climate control system is crucial to ensuring the Trophy is always the star and visible to fans throughout the tour. It maintains a constant temperature within the cabinet to eliminate fogging and is aided by anti‑glare security glass. To add a touch of theatre, three different lighting modes have been incorporated whilst the flat‑screen TV will play a host of memorable moments from Rugby's illustrious history.
The passenger interior is based on the Defender Autobiography edition and offers a high level of personalised design touches. Black Windsor Leather seats have been embellished with gold contrast stitching and Rugby World Cup 2015 blue piping whilst the contrast stitch extends to the dashboard and doors. The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour logo takes prominent position being embroidered onto the front headrests.
Powered by Land Rover's proven 2.2‑litre diesel engine and six‑speed manual transmission, this iconic all‑terrain vehicle also features a front winch, aluminium sump guard, side and rear steps, modified raised air intake and expedition rack. These are complimented by striking Rugby World Cup 2015 graphics to the exterior. Vehicle spot lights illuminate the immediate surroundings like a floodlit pitch while the broader 16" off‑road tyres give the Defender a purposeful and self‑assured stance.
John Edwards, Managing Director for Jaguar Land Rover's Special Operations division, said: "It's been a privilege to work on this one‑off Land Rover. The Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender is the perfect showcase for the ability of our Special Vehicle Operations division to make bespoke vehicles. From the illuminated Trophy cabinet at the back to its luxury interior, every aspect of this unique and special vehicle has been carefully engineered to provide the ultimate platform for the Webb Ellis Cup as it travels around the UK."
The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour, around the UK and Ireland, reflects the Defender's legendary go anywhere, do anything character as it traverses countrywide to bring the Webb Ellis Cup to over 300 events in 100 days and engage with fans and players at all levels.
The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour in the UK and Ireland kicks off on 10 June and will culminate on 18 September at the Rugby World Cup 2015 Opening Ceremony at Twickenham Stadium. The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour Defender will continue to transport the Webb Ellis Cup throughout the Tournament, which takes place across 13 stadiums in the UK until the final on 31 October.
ENDS
For further information log onto www.uk.media.landrover.com, www.landrover.com/rugby
http://www.broadcast.jaguarlandrover.com/
or contact:
Kim Palmer
Public Relations Manager, Land Rover UK
T: 02476 564 129
M: 07795 666 169
E: kpalmer@landrover.com
Tracey Tompsett
Senior Press Officer, Land Rover UK
T: 02476 565 210
M: 07469 032 064
E: ttompset@landrover.com
Jessica Rumboll
Press Officer, Land Rover UK
T: 02476 564 258
M: 07880 177 300
E: jrumboll@landrover.com
Follow us on Twitter: @LandRoverUKPR
EDITORS NOTE:
- First time Land Rover has converted a Defender for the purpose of carrying a trophy
- Rugby World Cup 2015Defender took nearly 6,000 hours to design and build at Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations base in the West Midlands, UK
- Only previous winners of the trophy are allowed to touch it ‑ meaning there was no room for mistakes during the build
- Optimum temperature for carrying trophy: 77 Farenheit (25°C)
- The RWC 2015 Defender will travel approximately 9,000 miles during the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour of the UK and Ireland."
About Land Rover
Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true 'breadth of capability' across the model range. Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque each define the world's 4x4 sectors, with 80% of this model range exported to over 170 countries.
About Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations
Jaguar Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations deliver high performance and luxury halo vehicles for discerning and enthusiast customers. SVO also produces low volume, high value limited edition models for both brands and undertakes personalisation and bespoke commissions.
About Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup (RWC) is the greatest prize in rugby and one of the world's most admired competitions having established itself as one of the most important sporting events behind the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup.
The RWC is controlled by World Rugby and is contested every four years, with the first RWC being held in Australia and New Zealand in 1987. From its 1987 debut as a competition for 16 invited teams, the RWC has increasingly grown in size, stature and prominence to 20 teams.
About the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour
The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour will bring Rugby's greatest prize, the Webb Ellis Cup, to England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland for 100 days, counting down to the Tournament before arriving at the Opening Ceremony at Twickenham Stadium on September 18. The Trophy Tour in the UK and Ireland follows the successful International Trophy Tour which has completed all of its 15 international visits.
