Custom Land Rover Defender 90 Convertible Debuts at Goodwood

Jul 11, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Slide 10
Slide 1
Slide 2
Slide 3
Slide 4
Slide 5
Slide 6
Slide 7
Slide 8
Slide 9
Slide 10
Slide 1

A remarkable Land Rover Defender 90 Convertible, born from the collaboration of two prominent aftermarket specialists, Urban Automotive and Heritage Customs, has made its debut at the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed. This bespoke creation transforms the rugged off-roader into a sophisticated open-top vehicle, boasting a striking orange leather interior and a tailored soft-top. The unveiling signifies a new direction for Urban Automotive, known for its high-end modifications, as it ventures into convertible conversions, leveraging the expertise of Heritage Customs.

This innovative project showcases the growing trend of personalized luxury vehicles, where skilled artisans reimagine iconic models to meet exclusive demands. The Defender 90, celebrated for its robust off-road prowess, now offers an additional dimension of refinement and open-air enjoyment, a feature not available in the factory production models. The partnership between these two firms, now united under the AM Group, highlights a strategic move to expand their offerings and cater to a discerning clientele seeking unparalleled automotive artistry and individuality.

The Birth of a Unique Convertible Defender

The Land Rover Defender 90, a symbol of rugged off-road capability, has received a transformative open-air modification thanks to a joint effort between Urban Automotive and Heritage Customs. This unique convertible, unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, combines Heritage Customs' specialized soft-top conversion with Urban Automotive's signature carbon-fiber body kit. It's a significant milestone for Urban Automotive, marking their first foray into convertible vehicles, a company previously focused on bespoke enhancements for luxury brands like Land Rover and Rolls-Royce.

Heritage Customs has a proven track record of reimagining the Defender, offering various accessories, custom interiors, and even a pickup conversion. For their Valiance convertible, structural integrity is paramount; the chassis of the donor Defender 90 is meticulously reinforced with a custom roll cage to compensate for the removal of the original bodywork. This particular model further benefits from Urban's distinctive touches, including wide-track fender flares, an XRS (Extreme Road Series) vented hood, carbon-fiber mirror caps, subtle lower front canards, and auxiliary square daytime running lights. Complementing its dark exterior, the vehicle rides on sleek black 23-inch wheels, while the cabin bursts with personality, featuring a vibrant Hermes Orange leather upholstery, including custom Recaro front seats and a matching dashboard overlay that extends even to the roll cage, creating a truly audacious and luxurious interior.

Urban Automotive's Strategic Expansion

Urban Automotive, a firm established in 2014, has carved out a niche in the luxury automotive sector by applying an \"OEM+\" approach to vehicle modification, aiming to deliver factory-level quality in their bespoke creations. This commitment to excellence has fueled substantial growth, prompting the company to undertake a significant expansion to meet rising customer demand for its highly customized vehicles. The recent merger with Dutch coachbuilder Heritage Customs, bringing both entities under the umbrella of the AM Group, is a testament to this strategic growth and their ambition to broaden their portfolio.

Beyond the new partnership, Urban Automotive is actively investing in its infrastructure, having recently acquired a substantial 42,000-square-foot facility in the United Kingdom, alongside a new warehouse and distribution center in the United States. These expansions are critical for supporting their increasing production volume and wider market reach. The company is not only expanding its physical footprint but also consistently introducing new and exciting projects. At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, alongside the debut of the extraordinary Defender convertible, Urban Automotive proudly showcased other recent modifications, including a refined Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II and a dynamic Range Rover Sport, illustrating their diverse capabilities and their unwavering dedication to crafting distinctive, high-quality automotive masterpieces.