Arkonik Taps Former Bugatti Design Chief Etienne Salomé for a Special Open-Top Land Rover Defender
Only five of them will be built.
Best known for its premium Land Rover Defender restomods, U.K.-based custom workshop Arkonik has now tapped former Bugatti design chief Etienne Salomé for a special open-top build.
Dubbed the Beach Cruiser, the new creation is based on a 1989 Defender 90. With the roof completely removed, Salomé has turned the robust off-roader into a minimalist convertible, rebuilding almost all of its sleek gray body panels to create a boxed, distraction-free aesthetic. Even the door handles are hidden, with the iconic round headlights now tucked neatly in the grille.
The minimalist design extends into the interior as well, with simple instrument panels and controls to retain the car’s vintage heritage. Its seats are covered in black denim to match the hardware, complete with a retro steering wheel and a five-speed manual transmission. As for power, a 3.9-liter V8 engine now sits under its hood, delivering plenty of pace and traction through the 16-inch steel wheels and BF Goodrich all-terrain tires.
Limited to just five build slots, the Arkonik Beach Cruiser will go for €206,900 EUR (approximately $240,000 USD). Learn more over on the company’s website.
Elsewhere in the automotive world, Ford has unveiled its F-100 Elumination electric restomod over at the SEMA Show.
