To celebrate the launch of Selfridges Project Earth, our commitment to designing a brighter future for retail, we commissioned Barbour to convert the iconic Land Rover Defender with a TDI 2.5L diesel engine into a truly unique electric Land Rover Defender. The E-Lander features a luxurious (and responsibly sourced) interior created by the experts at Barbour, a Tesla engine for zero-emission driving and Land Rover’s signature attention to detail. To put the car through its paces, we invited motoring personality Jonny Smith to take it for a spin from the Welsh highlands to its current home next to the Corner Shop in the Selfridges London store. Here’s how we gave the classic Land Rover Defender a modern-day makeover, with a little help from a few of our favourite British brands…

Up till now, electric vehicle technology has largely focused on urban transport that covers short distances. Automobile specialist Jonny Smith explains: “The rise of the electric vehicle couldn’t be more crucial within urban life, where journeys are often short, traffic is high and the need for clean air quality continues.” So, converting a Land Rover Defender, designed to traverse all terrains and cover long distances, was not going to be easy.

Transforming this classic off-road vehicle required the best brains in the industry, so we teamed up with Electric Classic Cars, the world leader in converting existing vehicles into more sustainable alternatives. Based in the rugged Welsh highlands, the company has helped some of the world’s largest organisations to reduce their carbon emissions for the past 20 years. Placed in their capable hands, our Defender was gutted: its diesel engine, fuel tank and exhaust removed and replaced by 16 Tesla Model S batteries. Balanced between the vehicle’s front and rear, these high-performance batteries supply 53 kilowatt-hours of power

The original Land Rover chassis was constructed using aluminium, an alternative for steel which was rationed during the World War II effort and its light-green paint was a hand-me-down from military planes. To refresh this iconic vehicle, we splashed on a shiny-new coat of paint in a light-mustard shade (a Selfridges favourite, naturally).

Imagine climbing into a Land Rover Defender – weathered seats, flapping calico and scattered wisps of hay may well spring to mind. Refining the Landy for drivers who cross cities and sweeping countryside required a contemporary makeover – and who better for the job than the equally timeless British brand Barbour? Known for creating high-quality durable garments – their lightweight jackets are famously cut from waxed cotton and tartan – team Barbour crafted a bespoke interior for our vehicle from their finest, responsibly sourced fabrics.

The bespoke Barbour interior, crafted using their iconic tartan and vegan leather

Barbour fashioned the interior with their classic tartan, a locally sourced and UK-made fabric normally reserved for the linings of their wax jackets. “It provides a harmonious contrast to the interior quilted leather panels and complements the external colour of the E-Defender. I think it looks fantastic,” says Gary Janes, Senior Design and Development Manager at Barbour. Quality design and classic craftsmanship underpin the finishes, creating a natural balance between the two heritage brands.