Outdoors

Tiny outdoor Land Rover cabin is festive and functional

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Car and cabin, side-by-side in the arctic wilderness
The Land Rover cabin all lit up for Christmas
The Land Rover cabin is cosy, with room for two campers
The Land Rover cabin has been dressed up to celebrate Christmas
Fold out seats on the back porch of the Land Rover Christmas cabin
The Land Rover cabin is trimmed like a British hunting lodge
Land Rover says the cabin will hold two people snugly
The cabin is fitted out for a weekend in the arctic
The cabin was tested out by a mountaineer over two frosty nights in the Land Rover cabin
Car and cabin, side-by-side in the arctic wilderness
The cabin has been given Land Rover branding, but won't drive anywhere unless loaded into the back of a car
Land Rover working out how to load the cabin into the back of the car
Like a giant Lego set, the cabin comes apart and can be put back together easily
Land Rover loads its cabin into the back of the Discovery Sport
The Land Rover Discovery Sport swallows the cabin with its rear seats folded down
Loading the cabin doesn't look like a small job
The Discovery Sport, all loaded up and ready to start camping
Land Rover ferried its cabin to the arctic in the back of a Discovery Sport
The cabin being put together
Land Rover used every available storage space in the Discovery Sport 
Land Rover is ready to feed Rudolph with its Discovery Sport and Christmas cabin
Lights went in the door pocket of the Land Rover Discovery Sport
Every available nook and cranny in the car was used to store the Land Rover Christmas cabin
The bits and pieces of the Land Rover Christmas cabin
Skylights in the Land Rover Christmas cabin
Land Rover is using the cabin as a perfect Christmas branding opportunity
Getting ready to bunker down in the Land Rover Christmas cabin
Christmas came early in the Land Rover cold-weather testing center
A mountaineer prepares for a chilly night in the Land Rover cabin
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Land Rover is known for creating cars able to traverse the earth, but that can create some problems. For one, sleeping in the back of a car isn't particularly comfortable, especially if you're trekking to the North Pole. Even though Santa only goes exploring once a year – and drives a sleigh when he does – Land Rover has decided to create him a cabin capable of keeping two campers warm in temperatures down to -20° C (-4° F).

Designed in conjunction with Danish architecture firm LUMO, the Land Rover cabin makes use of sustainable materials, and is set up to feel roomier than its 3.5m2 (37.67 ft2) area would otherwise suggest. It sits on 212-mm (8.34-in) struts to match the Discovery Sport ride height, and there are optional rear-deck seats to match the drop-down seats available on (you guessed it) the car.

A roof-mounted solar panel can be used to charge up phones and tablets, but anything bigger will need to be hooked up to the 12V socket in the car. Land Rover says the big, glass doors on the cabin were inspired by the optional panoramic sunroof on the Discovery, and should provide an impressive view when the cabin is plonked in the arctic wilderness.

The Discovery Sport, all loaded up and ready to start camping

When it's not being used, Land Rover has designed the cabin to fold away into the back of a Discovery Sport. With the cabin taking up the entire rear compartment, designers used the cupholders and glovebox to hold Christmas decorations and supplies. Having been tested by mountaineer Kenton Cool over two nights in the Land Rover cold-climate chamber, it was then whisked away to a secret location in the Arctic.

"There is a growing trend for off-grid living and 'wilderness cabins' and only Land Rover could create a 'go anywhere' cabin like this," says Kenon Cool, who has a surname to match his role as cold-weather tester. "The design is cleverly engineered and incredibly robust, making it perfect for remote locations across the world."

The Land Rover Christmas cabin isn't likely to be popping up on the option lists any time soon – at the moment it's a one-off. There's more information on it in the video below.

If something like this is on your Santa Wishlist, maybe try the G-Box out instead.

Source: Land Rover

View gallery - 28 images
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4 comments
Bob Flint
Did they not have to go.....you know #1 or #2?
woodarchitecturestudio
A home for Santa - without a chimney???
Joe Blough
Waxed and stacked sonotubes could provide cozy housing for millions.
Tom Lee Mullins
I wonder if that could go on a trailer? Like the one from Harbor Freight? it looks like it would be small enough for a small car to tow? Perhaps many could be in a trailer and use it for camp ground cabins or emergency shelters? I think it has potential.