Three years after the conception of the E.C.D, we opened our first design studio in Kissimmee, Florida headed by Richard Filpo, the company’s automotive designer. The evolution and addition of an in-house designer allowed E.C.D. to offer our clients a design experience unlike any other in the world.

Before the design journey begins, clients receive a beautiful hard-covered “welcome” book with full image prints of our most popular vehicles in addition to a newly-developed design kit that includes paint, leather, and stitch samples; design introduction books; a USB with a digital copy of the design book; and photos and videos of our client’s chosen vehicle model. Unlike design kits from other companies, our kits are tailored to clients based on the model of the vehicle they have selected.

The dedicated concierge team arranges a paid trip to the design studio of our client’s choice in either Malibu, California or our headquarters in Kissimmee, Florida to begin their design journey. It all starts with choosing the model of their custom vehicle. E.C.D. offers various two-door and four-door models to choose from. Once the desired model has been chosen, our client will select their drivetrain.

There are a variety of custom Defender drivetrain options to choose from depending on the intended use of the vehicle and the amount of power desired. Currently, E.C.D. offers the performance-based Chevrolet LS3 with 430-horsepower, the Chevrolet LC9 with 320-horsepower, the Cummins Turbo Diesel with 160-horsepower, and the original Rover V8 with 190-horsepower. Transmissions offered are a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.

When choosing the drivetrain, our client should consider laws and regulations in the state which they intend on registering the vehicle, as this must be a factor in selecting the engine due to emissions regulations in each state. States such as California have very strict regulations and therefore, the engine will need to be compliant with those laws. E.C.D. offers CA-compliant engine options to ensure a smooth registration process.

After selecting the drivetrain, our client will move into choosing their interior seat layout. Interior seat layouts will vary depending on the selected model and will range from a 2-person seat layout up to a 9-person seat layout.

Then, the really fun part begins — choosing all of the custom features and options! These are the top Defender upgrades to consider for a custom Defender. Through this process, clients will choose:

Paint — With our in-house paint facility, you have the option of choosing any color you desire and even curating your own custom color! There is no need to limit yourself to the original Defender paint colors, although they are quite stunning.

Roll-cage — A critical safety component of your custom Defender, this is a must-have. There several roll-cage options to choose from depending on the look you desire.

Body — Looking for a uniquely aggressive look? A wide-body kit is the perfect body upgrade for creating a custom Defender that stands out.

Bumpers — Plan on doing some heavy off-roading in your custom Defender? You’ll want to consider vehicle recovery equipment such as a winch. And if you prefer a more sleek look, there are plenty of bumper options to choose from.

Wheels — The wheels for your custom Defender is about more than just looks. We offer a huge variety of wheel options for you to choose from.

Seats — One of the best parts of the vehicle to customize, you’ll get hands-on with choosing your custom Defender seats. Our design studios feature the varying options in-house for you to, well, sit on! Whether you prefer a classic look or a sporty look, there’s a seat choice for you. We also offer the option of having heated and ventilated seats.

Leather — Going one step further with your seat selection, you’ll choose the upholstery. Leather is the most popular upholstery material for the interior of custom Defenders. We offer premium Italian leathers in hundreds of colors for you to choose from. You’ll also select your stitch pattern and stitch color. With hundreds of selections and color combinations to choose from, our designer is there to help you make a perfect choice.

Steering Wheels — We offer classic, wood, and sporty steering wheel options for you to choose from. You’ll want to consider more than just looks, as the feel of your steering wheel is critical to your driving comfort.

Audio System — Looking for clarity? Need something more robust for off-road use? We have options for that! We offer premium JL Audio, a frontrunner in automotive sound systems and is ideal for crisp, clear sound.
Above is a small portion of what you’ll be designing. There are many more aspects of your custom Defender that you will customize.

Once the design process is complete, our designer takes everything our client has selected and creates a custom vehicle rendering to showcase all of the items chosen. The rendering will provide a realistic image of what the completed custom Defender will look like. Don’t worry, anything on this rendering can be modified in the event something doesn’t quite fit after seeing it “on” the vehicle.

Our production team works diligently to bring your rendering to reality. E.C.D. begins their search across Europe for a base vehicle. Once the base vehicle arrives in Florida from overseas, our teardown team removes one of the hinges off the base vehicle and encases it in a premium shadow box with a badge for memorabilia. Once torn down, the base vehicle is sent to our in-house paint facility where your chosen paint color is applied to their base vehicle as well as a diecast Defender model. Upon completion of paint, the diecast Defender is shipped to you. Throughout production, you are able to watch your custom vehicle come to life in front of your eyes through a live camera that streams to the E.C.D. Automotive Design YouTube channel.

One of the most unique opportunities clients can experience is at vehicle completion. We offer the option to invite clients to our headquarters in Kissimmee, Florida to attach the final piece of their custom vehicle, their Defender plaque, to symbolize the official sign-off of their vehicle. Whether your looking for a NAS Defender or a Custom Restored Defender Build we have several years of experience. Clients also have the option to drive their vehicle to its new home or have it transported by a luxury automotive transport company in an enclosed trailer.