Heels & Horsepower Magazine

Land Rover Defender Wins 2021 Women’s World Car Of The Year

The Land Rover Defender has been named Supreme Winner Women’s World Car of the Year 2021. The triumph is the first time a Land Rover has won the top prize at the awards and is the latest in a series of international honours for the most capable Land Rover ever made.

Defender remains true to the pioneering spirit that has been a Land Rover hallmark for over 70 years and redefines adventure for the 21st century. Iconic in name, shape and capability, it is available in a choice of body designs and can be personalised with a choice of four Accessory Packs to help owners make more of their world.

The Women’s World Car of the Year (WWCOTY) awards are the only car awards in the world with a jury comprised exclusively of woman, with 50 motoring journalists from 38 countries on five continents recognizing the best new models available. The new Defender was named Best Medium SUV 2021 at the awards before being awarded – to coincide with International Women’s Day – the headline WWCOTY prize.

This is a huge honour for the whole team and a reward for the hard work that has gone into creating such a capable vehicle.

– Nick Collins, Executive Director, Vehicle Programmes, Jaguar Land Rover

Nick Collins, Executive Director, Vehicle Programmes, Jaguar Land Rover said: This is a huge honour for the whole team and a reward for the hard work that has gone into creating such a capable vehicle. Defender has won more than 50 international awards already, which tells us that our original vision for a 21st century Defender was the right one. New Defender combines an unmistakable silhouette with state-of-the-art technology in a design that respects its heritage and delivers authentic Land Rover capability. The result is a family of 4x4s that lives up to the Defender name with an efficient plug-in hybrid powertrain and our potent new Defender V8.” 

The Women’s World Car of the Year is the only jury in the world made up entirely of women motoring journalists.

– Marta Garcia, Executive President of the Women’s World Car of the Year

Marta Garcia, Executive President of the Women’s World Car of the Year, explains that the Women’s World Car of the Year is the only jury in the world made up entirely of women motoring journalists. “This gives it enormous value because its decisions represent the liking and preferences of millions of women drivers around the globe. But cars have no gender and are not subject to stereotypes, so the winners of these awards are, quite simply, the best cars in the world. And this year’s top winner is the Land Rover Defender,” she says.

The voting was verified by Grant Thornton, from its office in Auckland (New Zealand). The firm has been certifying the results of the Women’s World Car of the Year since its inception in 2009. Paul Kane, a partner in the company, says it is always a hard-fought process.

 

27 custom Range Rovers with South African-inspired colour names available in Mzansi now

To highlight the near endless colour spectrum available to customers as bespoke commissions, Land Rover South Africa has made 27 custom Range Rovers in a variety of special hues available to customers in Mzansi.

Similar to the one-of-a-kind Range Rover Sport built as a tribute to the Springbok Rugby Team and finished in the exact Pantone green to match the national squad’s specific logo in 2019, all 24 Range Rover Sports and three Range Rover SV Autobiography Dynamics were put through final paint processes at Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) department in Warwickshire, England.

The eight specially-formulated colours have been assigned South African-inspired titles to add a local element to the project, and all 27 vehicles are already on sale at Jaguar Land Rover retailers around the country. The special collection includes 20 Range Rover Sport SVRs finished in Stimela sa Sebusuku, single Range Rover Sport SVRs in izi Khaleni Plum1000 Hills GreenNamaqua Orange, and Egoli Yellow, and single Range Rover SVAD units in Bantry BlueSibudu Stoneand Sudwala Eve

Stimela sa Sebusuku

In addition to the unique paint offerings, each of the Range Rovers also receive custom door sill plates etched with the words ‘Built by Special Vehicle Operations’ and circular B-pillar badges etched with ‘SVO BESPOKE’ logos.

All 27 customers destined to own these vehicles will receive certificates of authenticity, each embossed with SVO logos matching respective special paint finishes and naming the South Africa-inspired colours.

South African customers interested in custom-painted Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles are not limited to these 27 offerings only, as personal colour preferences can be applied to Range Rover Sport SVR, Range Rover SVAD and Jaguar F-PACE SVR vehicles through SVO’s match-to-sample service. Whether it’s a specific brand identity, favourite pair of shoes, family heirloom or anything at all, SVO can match the colour as closely as possible using latest technologies to deliver unparalleled finishes at its dedicated paint facility.

Egoli Yellow

The scope of personalisation also includes a near limitless range of interior trims and leather options through SV Bespoke, so that discerning customers can specify a vehicle to exacting preferences.

South African customers can contact any Jaguar Land Rover dealer for potential bespoke commissions to be fulfilled by Special Vehicle Operations in the UK. 

Bantry Blue
South African-inspired colour descriptions

Sibudu Stone: Inspired by the ancient cliffs of the Sibudu Cave in Kwa Zulu Natal, Sibudu Stone is a rich, pearlescent grey-blue shade which dances dramatically off the Range Rover’s elegant silhouette.

Sudwala Eve : Inspired by the darkest chambers of the oldest caves in the world, this exclusive Sudwala Eve finish exudes an enigmatic aura as moving as the historic South African landmark itself. Like the 2.8-billion-year-old dolomite rocks which comprise the Sudwala cave system, the Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic commands respect like no other.

izi Khaleni Plum

Bantry Blue: Inspired by the cool, azure Atlantic waters and cerulean sky of Bantry Bay in the Western Cape, Bantry Blue is a deeply intense colour evocative of summer escapes that will delight occupants and onlookers equally. Spellbinding in appearance, this colour applied to the Range Rover’s clean but purposeful lines has a most magical effect.

Stimela sa Sebusuku: Inspired by the rich history trains have had in shaping South Africa, Stimela sa Sebusuku translates from isiZulu as ‘Midnight train’. This deep satin black finish underlines the Range Rover Sport’s athletic lines while paying tribute to the iconic mode of transport responsible for making Mzansi what it is today.

Namaqua Orange: Inspired by the famous Flower Route north of Cape Town that is transformed in springtime by a phenomenal exhibition of flowering daisies, Namaqua Orange is an vibrant hue fitting of the Range Rover Sport SVR’s energetic nature.

1000 Hills Green

Egoli Yellow: Inspired by Johannesburg – the city of Gold. Egoli yellow is a vibrant yellow hue, evocative of South Africa’s sunshine and the warmth of Mzansi’s people.

1000 Hills Green: Inspired by the verdant greenery in the rolling hills of Kwa-Zulu Natal, this lush, electric green has been applied to the Range Rover Sport SVR to create a show-stopping vehicle like no other.

Izi Khaleni Plum: Inspired by the deep purple sunset often witnessed near an impressive rock formation in Coffee Bay, izi Khaleni Plum is a lively colour for a lively SUV. Translated from Xhosa, izi Khaleni means ‘Place of thunder’ – a fitting title for the most powerful Land Rover in history.