Land Rover has been part of Bond’s world for 38 years, but No Time To Die was the first time the new Defender appeared in it. The Land Rover Defender cars in No Time To Die were finished in Santorini Black, with darkened skid pans, dark 20-inch wheels and professional off-road tyres. In our view the Defender 110 X is the most sensible way to own a piece of that world.
In the film
Logan Ash, played by Billy Magnussen, drives the Defender 110 in the Norway sequence of No Time To Die. The car also appears in a chase scene, and Ash’s car carries continuity damage from Norway. The film cars were based on the Defender X in Santorini Black. The film is the fifth and last for Daniel Craig’s Bond.
The Land Rover Defender No Time To Die in detail
Santorini Black. A deep, plain black metallic. It hides mud better than white and looks more serious than green, and it is the colour the film cars were finished in.
Darkened skid pans and dark wheels. The film specification swapped bright trim for dark finishes, including 20-inch wheels. Land Rover lists alloys from 18 to 22 inches across the Defender range, so a dark wheel in a similar size is the place to start.
A body that holds together. The Defender is built on a monocoque chassis with a reinforced steel subframe. Land Rover describes it as a combination of lightweight rigidity and durability, which is the sort of thing you only notice once the road ends.
Engine. The 110 X sold in recent years carries a 3.0-litre six-cylinder making 395hp, paired to an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. It is quick enough, and few people buy a Defender for the number.
Capability. Land Rover quotes a maximum wading depth of 35.4in, towing of up to 8,200lb and Terrain Response 21, which adjusts the car’s settings for mud, snow or loose ground. Figures vary by model, so check the one you are ordering.
Room. The 110 seats up to seven with the optional third row, with up to 69.1 cu ft of cargo space behind the first row. It is the Defender for a household rather than a weekend toy.
Owning it now
The Defender is the right car for a man who lives partly outside the city: a house with a gravel drive, a dog, a boat or a horse box, a few hours of bad road before the good part of the weekend. Black is the quiet choice and sits well with waxed jackets, wool and worn leather.
Which version? We would choose the 110 in X specification, in Santorini Black, with dark wheels and no more badges than it needs. The shorter 90 has its case, but the 110 is the Defender in the film and the one that suits real use.
Tyres. The film cars ran professional off-road tyres. For most owners a good all-terrain tyre is a better trade between road manners and mud, and it keeps the look.
New or pre-owned? The 110 X has been sold for several model years, and used examples from 2020 to 2023 are widely listed. A well-documented one with a full service history is worth considering, as is ordering new to your own specification. Land Rover prices by configuration, so we have left the figure to the maker.
Specifications
| Model | Land Rover Defender 110 X |
|---|---|
| Film specification | Santorini Black, darkened skid pans, 20-inch dark finish wheels, professional off-road tyres |
| Engine (110 X, model years 2020 to 2023) | 3.0-litre six-cylinder, 395hp, eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive |
| Seating | Up to seven with the optional third row |
| Cargo space | Up to 69.1 cu ft behind the first row |
| Towing | Up to 8,200lb |
| Wading depth | Up to 35.4in |
| Wheels | 18 to 22 inches across the range |
| Price | Varies by configuration; see Land Rover |
Full details and configuration are on Land Rover’s own Defender 110 page.
Questions
Is this the exact Defender from No Time To Die?
No. The film cars were based on the Defender X in Santorini Black, with darkened skid pans, dark 20-inch wheels and professional off-road tyres. The road-going 110 X is the model they were based on, and Santorini Black is the place to start.
Who drives the Defender in No Time To Die?
Logan Ash, played by Billy Magnussen, drives it in the Norway sequence. The Defender also appears in a chase scene.
Was No Time To Die the new Defender’s first film?
Yes. Land Rover announced that the new Defender 110 would make its motion picture debut in the film.
How much does the Defender 110 X cost?
Land Rover prices the Defender by configuration, so there is no single figure. Use the maker’s configurator for a current price, or look at pre-owned 110 X examples from 2020 to 2023, which are widely listed.
More cars from Bond’s world are in our vehicles collection, and the rest of the story is on the No Time To Die page.
