Custom Open-Roof Land Rover Defender Looks Both Royal And Rugged

Now, Urban Automotive is joining the throng after presenting a convertible, wide-body example of the Defender, the first of three debuts for the UK-based customizer at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Dubbed the Urban Widetrack Heritage Series Soft-Top, neither official pricing nor confirmed production numbers have been announced. Based on a Valiance soft-top conversion overseen by Dutch company Heritage Customs that already costs $166,000, don’t be too surprised to see this limited-edition Defender 90 vault over the $200,000 mark and into Bentley Bentayga and Aston Martin DBX territory. Interestingly, though Urban Automotive is no stranger to customizing the likes of Land Rover’s Evoque, Discovery and Range Rover Sport among others, this is the first time the UK-based brand has presented a convertible model since its foundation in 2014.

The most notable aspect of the Widetrack Soft-Top is, naturally, that semi-electric folding fabric roof, which apparently makes Heritage Customs “the first company to convert the Land Rover Defender into a soft-top.” The Dutch company has conveniently forgotten about Land Rover Classic’s Defender V8 Works Bespoke Soft Top unveiled in April, although the latter, in fairness, did not feature a powered fabric roof. Beneath the soft top, the overhauled interior is finished in vibrant Hermes Orange leather trim, features Recaro bucket seats (in the front at least, the rear bench has been retained), and a custom Heritage series dashboard, which, yes, continues the orange theme.

On the outside, the new Widetrack package Urban boasts extended wheel arches – beneath which we find 23-inch Urban WX-2 R black alloys – an Extreme Road Series vented hood, and Best of British-themed side vents. There’s also, as you would expect, a multitude of carbon fiber accents, including across the lower front canard and daytime running lights, the wing mirror caps, and exposed weaves on the XRS hood’s air vents.

No Powertrain Upgrades, For Now Anyway

Interestingly, Urban Automotive has made no mention of any upgrades to the Defender 90’s powertrain, suggesting that the Widetrack Soft-Top could feature the same 5.0-liter supercharged V8 as its top trim base model, as well as the same 518-horsepower and 461-pound feet of torque

Though no official details have been dropped yet, Urban has also teased a new Widetrack package for Rolls-Royce’s Cullinan SUV. Sitting on 24-inch forged UV-8 alloys, the Cullinan likewise features a replacement carbon fiber hood and “a new layer of aggression” for the Rolls-Royce coach.

We have feet on the ground at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed and will plug in more information as it becomes available.