Meet Bellatrix: A modified and armored Land Rover Defender with enough gadgets to ensure that it wouldn’t look out of place in the next Bond movie.
Designed and built by New York firm Helderburg, the Bellatrix has got—deep breath—explosive resistance to .44-Magnum ballistics and grenade attacks, electric shock door handles, concealed gun ports, run-flat tires, a smoke screen system ‘for evasive maneuvres,’ mace-spraying side mirrors, a road-spike system, and reinforced hidden ram bumpers.
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If that wasn’t enough, Helderburg is also using multi-layered glass for more ballistic protection, and there is EMP protection built in, too. The customizer plans on building three of these ‘fortresses of family protection on wheels.’ We are positively shaken and stirred.
Elsewhere, there are upgraded wheels, brakes and suspension, plus the powertrain is Helderburg’s turbodiesel engine, though you can swap that for a petrol-powered V8 if you so wish. Because 'Murica!
Inside, there’s a mix of leather and Alcantara with diamond stitching for softly furnished door cards, comfy seats and benches. There are also richly threaded headrest motifs and lots of bits that look rather expensive.
The dash features a highly polished (and really rather pretty) wood-finished steering wheel and old-style dials. Yet, even with all the classic Landie looks, the Bellatrix isn’t behind on tech. The central display runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto... dare we suggest a more likely port for a future ‘attack.’ In keeping with the whole presidential-level-protection attitude, there’s a concealed escape hatch. But of course.
Weight-wise, we don’t have exact specs, but with that amount of extra engineering it’ll likely not be far off a Tesla Cybertruck. Unlike the Cyber-chunk, though, this Defender-shaped shield is apparently aiming to be demure. Right...
Prices for the Helderburg Bellatrix start at an eye-watering £455,000 (P33.97 million before taxes) and change—and yes, we still want one. Do you?
NOTE: This story first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
