Land Rover reveals mobile trophy cabinet

Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations has created a special one-off Defender to safely display the 2015 Rugby World Cup for promotional duties ahead of the tournament held in the UK this September.

Called the Rugby World Cup Defender Trophy, the new Land Rover SVO vehicle is based on the Defender 110 Station Wagon Autobiography limited-edition.

Said to be a year in the making and the work of more than 6000 man hours, the SVO Defender has been created to display, but not carry, the priceless trophy.

Coming equipped with a winch, snorkel, roo bar, plus big wheels and tyres, the tough-looking Land Rover was said to be inspired by a professional rugby player.

From the rear seats back the bodywork is all new. Made of aluminium and 'riot-proof' glass, the actual cabinet also hosts a 40-inch TV and is said to be completely theft-proof. It includes its own climate control system that maintains moisture content and a steady temperature of 25C.

Land Rover has also created what it calls a 'Selfie Seat' -- an upholstered folding split tailgate to allow rugby fans to photograph themselves with the trophy.

Despite earning a reputation for wild Jaguars and, more recently, the Range Rover Sport SVR, under the bonnet of the new Defender retains its standard 88kW 2.2-litre diesel.

The brakes and suspension also remain untouched but the Defender Cup will undergo extensive testing to ensure its rear vault-like cabinet is completely weatherproof ahead of its promotional duties that start on June 6.

The unusual one-off Land Rover is not the only Defender JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations is working on. A Land Rover insider said the firm’s black ops division is developing more than one special-edition to farewell to the Defender.