While some people look at accessories just for their styling and ‘cool’ factor most are fitted because they have a purpose to fulfil.

This is especially  true for a vehicle built to traverse the roughest tracks up mountains and down into valleys all around the world, including New Zealand classics like the Old Man Range and Whitecombe Road. You definitely need a good dependable vehicle to negotiate your way through in one piece. 

And it’s a well set up vehicle we have here in the form of a new Land Rover Defender 110 Double Cab Ute that Tauranga dealer Duncan & Ebbett have put together as a demonstrator. 

Brendan MacPherson of Duncan & Ebbett is no stranger to creating outstanding vehicles for his Land Rover dealership and this one is no exception.

Brendan wanted a tough looking vehicle that had just enough of the right equipment to help it along off road, but also with some special interior comfort and exterior cosmetic features thrown in.   So he has taken a brand new Land Rover Defender with the 2.2 litre Diesel engine and 6-speed gearbox and given it a makeover with the assistance of Auckland-based Land Rover accessory specialist Mainlandrover (for the winch bumper, suspension and rear bumperettes).

Inside, the vehicle has been fitted with an upgraded seating front and rear from specialist design and styling company Kahn Design who market an extensive range of vehicle enhancements that can elevate any vehicle from the mundane to the extraordinary. 

While on the subject of styling, special Kahn Defend 1948 16x8 alloy rims have been fitted wrapped with 265x75x16 Cooper Discoverer ST Max tyres. 

The Defender is equipped with a special Safety Devices UK external roll cage and a 40mm suspension lift using Terrafirma springs and matched with Terrafirma Pro Sport 40mm internal bore, nitrogen charged shock absorbers.

Thanks to TECT All Terrain Park, Tauranga for the use of the park’s facilities.

To read the full story in the March 2015 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (on sale March 23) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.