In the rarefied world of high-design automotive collaborations, few partnerships feel as naturally aligned as the alliance between ECD Automotive Design and Chelsea Truck Company. Their latest creation—the ECD x CTC Defender 02—signals not merely a continuation of the partnership announced late last year, but a confident escalation of intent.
Based on a factory-new Defender 110 P525 V8, Defender 02 arrives as a study in modern authority. Finished in Carpathian Grey, the SUV wears Chelsea Truck Company’s Series 2 Wide Track body kit with unmistakable confidence. The widened stance is complemented by 22-inch Type 52 Satin Black wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich Trail Terrain T/A tires—less expedition fantasy, more urban dominance.
Carbon fiber plays a starring role. An exposed vented bonnet, oversized rear roof wing, and quad roof shield with integrated LED lighting lend the vehicle a visual sharpness that feels deliberate rather than decorative. It’s aggressive, yes—but carefully edited, as one would expect from a collaboration steeped in design pedigree.
Under the hood lies Land Rover’s formidable P525 supercharged V8, its presence amplified by a non-resonated exhaust system finished with GT 90 black tips and active valve control. The result is a powertrain that can whisper through residential streets or announce itself with theatrical intent—entirely at the driver’s discretion.
Inside, the mood shifts from assertive to assured. Volcanic Black leather upholstery, detailed with 3D modular stitching, creates a cockpit that feels both technical and indulgent. This is not nostalgia masquerading as luxury; it is contemporary craftsmanship executed with restraint.
According to ECD Automotive Design CEO Scott Wallace, Defender 02 represents the clearest expression yet of what the partnership was designed to achieve: Chelsea Truck Company’s unmistakable visual language brought to life through ECD’s obsessive execution and client-focused ethos. And if this build is any indication, the collaboration’s future offerings across the modern Defender platform will only grow bolder.
The ECD x CTC Defender 02 is not a one-off statement—it is a benchmark. A signal that the modern bespoke SUV has entered a new phase, where global design influence, factory-new engineering, and artisanal detail coexist without compromise.
For those seeking a Defender that stands unmistakably apart, this is where the conversation now begins.
