WATCH | Shaken and stirred: Land Rover's 007 James Bond rally-ready Defender 90 breaks cover

Did you know that 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise? Dr. No was released on 5 October 1962, and since 1983, Land Rover products have been featured in these classic motion pictures. The Range Rover Rapport Huntsman was the first Landy to land a starring role in the series in 1983's Octopussy.

To commemorate sixty years of 007 espionage and its vehicles' impact regarding pop culture, Land Rover has built a one-of-a-kind Defender 90 Special Edition that James Bond stunt driver Mark Higgins will drive. He'll be using it to compete in a unique leg of the 2022 Bowler Defender Challenge in Wales this weekend.

It's built to competition specification

According to Land Rover's spokespeople, the competition-ready Bond Defender you see in these pictures is based on a production version of the Defender 90. It's powered by a 221kW P300 Ingenium turbo-petrol engine that punches power and torque to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox with low range.

It boasts a host of safety modifications, including a full roll cage, enhanced cooling for the engine and transmission, a sports exhaust and a new rear roof spoiler. As Land Rover does, additional bespoke enhancements include strengthened 18-inch Bowler wheels with all-terrain tyres and a custom suspension design with modified subframes, new springs, and unique turrets for increased stiffness. If the Defender wasn't hardy enough already, they've ensured its durability won't come into question during competition play.

James Bond stunt driving professional Mark Higgins says: "The Defender is a tough and capable vehicle when it leaves the production line, and I've seen it perform really challenging stunts while on the set of No Time To Die. With the