US restomodders Helderburg have unveiled the Bellatrix, a $1 million luxury war machine based on the bones of the classic Land Rover Defender.
Helderburg describes the heavily modified Bellatrix – which is Latin for ‘female warrior’ – as “a meticulously engineered, limited-edition armoured Land Rover Defender that redefines the standards for both security and sophisticated design”.
To create the Bellatrix, the exterior of the classic Defender has been heavily reinforced with multi-layer glass windows, bullet- and explosive-resistant body panels, and ‘ram bumpers’.
Helderburg claims that the Bellatrix can withstand .44 Magnum bullets, grenades, and even an EMP electromagnetic attack.
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In addition to a fully armoured exterior, the Bellatrix comes with a suite of defence systems to further deter your enemies.
The door handles are fitted with an electric shock system to repel potential intruders, while the doors also feature concealed gun ports.
The Bellatrix can also emit pepper spray from its side mirrors, a road spike from the underbody, or even a smoke screen if the driver favours flight over fight.
Under its strengthened skin, the Bellatrix packs an enhanced version of the standard turbo-diesel inline-four engine found in Defenders of the era, mated to a manual transmission.
Helderburg has fitted a larger turbocharger and custom ECU, as well as a valved exhaust system to maximise outputs. The engine and radiator are both armoured to protect against damage, ensuring the Bellatrix remains functional when under fire.
The Bellatrix is offered in three different states of tune, and Helderburg also offers a petrol V8 conversion with an automatic transmission.
Other mechanical upgrades include reinforced springs and sway bars, upgraded shock absorbers, bigger brakes, beadlock wheels, and run-flat tyres.
Inside, each Bellatrix is trimmed in a mix of leather and alcantara decided upon by the buyer. The interior lighting system has been bolstered to improve visibility in the cabin at night, while there’s a fire extinguishing system and escape hatch in case the case of an emergency.
The price for one of these glitzy weaponised machines? A cool US$588,523 (A$934,015). Helderburg has kicked off production of the Bellatrix, with deliveries set to commence from May 2026.
Don’t get your hopes up though, as the Bellatrix is a limited-run custom build.
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2025 Defender 130
For reference, a brand-new L663 Defender can be had from as little as $92,402 before on-road costs, although that’ll be a short-wheelbase two-door Defender 90.
The most expensive modern Defender is the twin-turbo V8 OCTA, which starts from $291,542 plus on-roads.
