THE WAIT is almost over for fans of the legendary Land Rover Defender, with the all-new version of the farmers' and forces favourite set to be unveiled on September 10at the Frankfurt motor show - three years after the original went out of production.

Strangely, given the number of photos already issued by the company of camouflaged, pre-production models undergoing testing in extreme conditions around the world, Land Rover is being somewhat coy about showing off the new off-roader in all its uncamouflaged glory ahead of its official launch.

And that reluctance to show us the finished product seems even more strange given the fact that a picture of the new Defender - spotted during filming of the latest James Bond movie in Italy - was widely published earlier this week after being uploaded to Facebook and Instagram.

For the time being, the only ‘official' photo released by Land Rover is of the mud-covered edge of the new car's bonnet showing the Defender and Land Rover badges.

And that's because the new Defender's launch will, as you might expect, be far from ordinary.

The road to its' reveal began in one of the most land-locked locations on earth, among the towering 300m canyons of the remote Valley of the Castles in Kazakhstan - starting point for an overland expedition which will end with the travel-stained car being unveiled on Land Rover's stand at the Frankfurt show.

This latest generation of Land Rover's most capable and durable 4x4 will represent the latest chapter in a story which began seven decades ago. Since then Land Rovers have earned a unique place in the hearts of explorers, humanitarian agencies and adventurous families across the world.

Proven in the harshest environments on earth, the new Defender will maintain this bloodline, says the company, remaining true to the pioneering spirit that has been a Land Rover hallmark for 71 years.