WITH THE DEBUT OF THE 2026 DEFENDER 110 TROPHY EDITION, LAND ROVER REVIVES ITS STORIED TRADITION OF ADVENTURING, PAIRING A TRAIL-CONQUERING SUV WITH AN INVITATION TO TEST ITS METTLE IN THE MARQUE’S NEW GLOBAL COMPETITION SERIES

BY AMANDA McCOY

BRAGGING RIGHTS arrive in the form of Trophy-exclusive decals along the hood, C-pillars, and rear tailgate, plus illuminated badging on the treadplates.

WHILE DEFENDERS WERE BORN to get dirty, buyers can add a matte protective film for an extra layer of protection when blazing new trails

Some vehicles are born for turnpikes and thoroughfares; others are bred to forge their own paths. The Land Rover Defender has always belonged to the latter camp. Since its debut in 1983 (though it wouldn’t carry the Defender name until the ‘90s), the boxy bruiser has served as a passport to the planet’s most unforgiving frontiers. Safari-bound in Kenya, expedition equipped in the Arctic, or hauling supplies across muddy British farmland, the Defender earned its stripes as the tough-and-ready, no-nonsense chariot of explorers and dreamers alike.

Fast forward a few decades, and the 2026 Defender 110 Trophy Edition pushes that ethos into modern form. Cloaked in exclusive yellow and-black livery or heritage green that pays homage to Land Rovers of yore, the Trophy Edition celebrates the launch of the Defender Trophy adventure competition, a multi-day series of global off-road challenges designed to test drivers’ skills, teamwork, and grit against the elements. Think water crossings, rock crawls, precision navigation, and recovery drills all with a stopwatch ticking. Winners of regional heats earn a place in the international finale, where bragging rights are matched only by the stories carved into the mud.

Underneath the celebratory paint, the 110 Trophy Edition is every bit as adventure-ready as enthusiasts would expect (and demand). In the U.S., a 3.0L V6 (395 horsepower strong) snarls beneath the hood, paired with an advanced Terrain Response system that calibrates throttle, suspension, and differentials for whatever landscape awaits. Skid plates, a raised air intake, gear racks, and all-terrain tires round out the equipment, while the interior is wrapped in premium Ebony Windsor Leather – because conquering the wild doesn’t mean forsaking comfort, after all.

LAND ROVER IS INVITING entrants from more than 50 countries to compete in the new series, which will begin with a string of regional competitions before finalists are chosen for the ultimate showdown in Africa in October 2026. Participants aren’t required to purchase the new Defender Trophy Edition, but they must be at least 23 years old, have a valid driver’s license, and be able to swim up to 50 meters. An insatiable thirst for adventure is highly recommended.

ARMED AND READY for multi-day safaris in the untamed wild, the Trophy Edition boasts a beefy roof rack along with a deployable roof ladder so pilots can easily grab their gear.

CHOOSE YOUR FINISH between two vintage colorways: Deep Sandglow Yellow or Kenswick Green. The first pays homage to an iconic shade of the competition vehicles in the Camel Trophy series of the ‘80s and ‘90s, known as the Olympics of 4×4. Kenswick, on the other land, is an ode to the verdant countryside of the Defender’s homeland, the U.K.

The Trophy Edition is less about excess horsepower and more about honoring the Defender’s purpose: resilience, exploration, and camaraderie. Each vehicle is as much a collector’s piece as a ticket to adventure, forever linked to Land Rover’s legacy of turning the world itself into a playground. If the standard Defender is a trusty companion, the 110 Trophy Edition is its seditious sibling: loud, proud, and always ready to get down and dirty. Some might call it overkill; Land Rover calls it tradition. MSRP $95,000.

ONLY 250 TROPHY EDITIONS will be up for grabs in the U.S. and Canada, making it one of the rarest modern Defenders.

Ray Catena Land Rover

920 U.S. Rte 1, Edison 732.205.9000 / landroveredison.com