Wednesday November 2019, London UK – Land
Rover puts fans inside the New Defender on the set of No Time To Die,
the 25th official James Bond film, in a teaser video released
to announce its continued partnership with EON
Productions.
Footage captured
during filming of the upcoming movie gives a unique, behind-the-scenes view of
stunt co-ordinator Lee Morrison and stunt driver Jess Hawkins at work.
No
Time To Die is the first movie to feature the New
Defender, the latest legendary vehicle to star in a James Bond car chase
sequence. The New Defender has been tested by the 007 expert stunt team in the
most extreme off-road conditions, demonstrating its unstoppable nature.
Lee
Morrison, James Bond Stunt Co-ordinator, said: "Designing and
co-ordinating the action sequences for the Bond franchise requires a
non-compromising mindset. We needed an
unstoppable vehicle to help us battle against the elements, steep descents and
river crossings so we chose the new Defender. I'm beyond impressed that the
Defender is not only back but much, much better!"
The New Defender provides ground clearance of 291 mm and world-class
off-road geometry, giving the Defender 110 approach, breakover and departure angles
of 38, 28 and 40 degrees (Off Road height) respectively. Its maximum wading
depth of 900 mm is supported by a new Wade programme in the Terrain Response 2
system, so drivers can ford deep water with complete confidence.
Land
Rover’s design team worked closely with Special Effects and Action Vehicles
Supervisor Chris Corbould on the specification of the Defenders in the film. Based on the Defender X model in Santorini Black, with darkened skid
pans, 20 in dark finish wheels and professional off-road tyres, they were the first
Defenders to be built at Jaguar Land Rover’s new production facility in Nitra,
Slovakia.
Richard
Agnew, Global Communications Director for Land Rover, said: “ No Time To Die is a brilliant way to
showcase the New Defender’s capabilities in the latest jaw-dropping James Bond car
chase. It’s been hugely exciting to continue our relationship with EON
Productions and work with their teams to deliver a spectacular sequence.”
Britain’s biggest
vehicle manufacturer has a long-standing partnership with EON Productions on
the Bond films, which began in 1983 when a Range Rover Convertible appeared in Octopussy.
Alongside
the Defenders, No Time To Die also
features the Range Rover Sport SVR, Series III Land Rover and Range Rover
Classic.
No Time To Die, is
directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his
fifth film as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007. The film will be released globally
in cinemas from April 2 2020 in the U.K. through Universal Pictures
International and in the U.S on April 10, from Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios via
their United Artists Releasing banner.