GRR

Duke of Richmond opens FOS with new Defender global debut

04th July 2019
Adam Wilkins

The Duke of Richmond became the first person outside of JLR to get behind the wheel of the forthcoming Land Rover Defender when he opemed the 2019 Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard by taking to the hill in a prototype.

fos-2019-duke-land-rover-defender-pete-summers-goodwood-04071902.jpg

The new Defender is one of the most highly anticipated new cars. It's no exaggeration to say that the original has iconic status, so any car that follows it has some big shoes to fill. The car's global debut at Goodwood has given us our first chance to see the car up close for the very first time.

The camoflage wrap hides some of the car's finer details, but there's still plenty that can be gleaned from seeing it in the flesh. For one thing, the new car's function-over-form appearance is very familar – the squared off styling and short overhangs are hugely reminiscent of its forebear, especially in the short wheelbase three-door form of this car. The side hinged rear door, pronounced wheelarches and upright glasshouse are also familiar Defender 'tells'.

We can't wait to see it with the camo removed...

Photography by Peter Summers.

fos-2019-duke-land-rover-defender-pete-summers-goodwood-04071908.jpg
fos-2019-duke-land-rover-defender-pete-summers-goodwood-04071903.jpg
  • FOS

  • FOS 2019

  • 2019

  • Land Rover

  • Defender

  • Defender_OCTA_Goodwood_FOS_02072024_list.jpg

    News

    2025 Defender OCTA is Land Rover’s Raptor killer

  • fos-2019-land-rover-defender-dr-pete-summers-video-main-goodwood-04072019.jpg

    Festival of Speed

    Video: Land Rover Defender prototype global debut with the Duke of Richmond

  • sidebar-land-rover-defender-tusk-kenya06061902.jpg

    News

    Land Rover puts new Defender through its paces in Kenyan conservation initiative

Shop the latest layers essentials in the Motor Circuit Collection

Shop Now
Download the

Goodwood Motorsport App

Timetable, personal itinerary, map and more. Download free for iOS and Android.