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Despite their reputation for poor reliability, Land Rover still has tons of ardent fans who are willing to deal with any repeating issues just to keep saying that they own a Land Rover. Misguided or not, you can’t say Land Rover fans aren’t loyal. For those outside of the “choir,” Land Rover is making moves to attract new customers.

There are numerous marketing techniques and strategies that automakers lean on to help get their brand in front of as many eyeballs as possible. Sometimes it’s as simple as a catchy ad campaign like Kia with those hauntingly creepy dancing hamsters. Another popular strategy is to start a cross-promotional partnership with a blockbuster film.

Land Rover partners with James Bond and ‘No Time To Die’

Land Rover Defender V8 Bond Edition in all black. Photo shot in a white studio. Vehicle is facing the camera with the front wheels slightly turned to the viewer's right, revealing a hint of the blue brake calipers.
Land Rover Defender V8 Bond Edition | Land Rover

With British origins, it is not shocking that Land Rover would choose to hitch their wagon to the massive hype train following the new James Bond film No Time to Die. The latest film is expected to be the last Bond for actor Daniel Craig. A large audience is expected to flock to theaters to watch the actor’s final performance in this role which means No Time To Die is a prime cross-promotional opportunity for Land Rover.

Land Rover has announced a limited “Bond Edition” Defender V8 SUV created by their “SV” bespoke division to capitalize on the film’s opening.

Land Rover Defender V8 Bond Edition

The Land Rover Defender V8 Bond Edition seen in a side view with a puddle light featuring the "007" logo.
The Land Rover Defender V8 Bond Edition | Land Rover

This limited-edition collector’s edition Defender SUV is meant to look similar to those that appear in No Time To Die. The 2022 Land Rover Defender V8 Bond Edition features an “Extended Black Pack” with 22-inch “Luna Gloss Black” wheels, “Xenon Blue” front brake calipers, and a ‘Defender 007’ badge in the rear. The complete look is a blacked-out Land Rover with stealthy touches. The vibe could fit that of Bond himself or the henchmen chasing him.

The theme continues in the interior, with back-lit ‘Defender 007’ door-sill plates and a custom touchscreen start-up animation for the infotainment system that pays homage to Land Rover’s historic partnership with the James Bond film franchise. One more hidden touch is a puddle light that projects the ‘007’ logo on the ground. Not a very stealthy feature for a spy trying to keep a low profile but still nice to look at nonetheless.

How to get the Defender V8 Bond Edition

Only 300 examples of the Land Rover Defender V8 Bond Edition will be produced for the global market. With production numbers that low, prospective buyers can expect a hefty markup from any dealership that happens to get an allocation. We are speculating that since both Land Rover and James Bond are prominent U.K. brands, the majority of those 300 units will likely be reserved for that territory.

We would not be surprised if less than 100 of the SUVs make their way to the states. Vehicles that do make it to the American market will have a starting price of $114,600. That is about $9.200 more than the starting MSRP of a base Land Rover Defender V8.

Anyone lucky (or wealthy) enough to get their hands on a Land Rover Defender V8 Bond Edition can show off their SUV’s collectible nature by pointing out the laser-etched interior logos which list their specific car’s production number.

As unbelievable as it might seem that customers would be willing to spend an extra $9,200 plus dealer mark-up just to pretend they are James Bond during their daily commute, we can’t honestly say we wouldn’t do the same thing if we had the funds for it.

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