Every Arkonik Defender is built with one purpose in mind: to be used.
To leave the boulevard behind. To keep going when pavement becomes gravel, rock and dirt. To give its driver the confidence to explore further, without compromising the refinement, performance and usability demanded on the road.
Because for us, building a Defender has never simply been about the vehicle. It’s about where it can take you, the experiences it creates and the people you meet along the way.
Celtic
Few stories capture that spirit better than those of our good friends Chris and Gerri from Indiana, and their 110 Station Wagon, Celtic, named in recognition of their Celtic ancestry.
Originally delivered in 2021 to coincide with their joint 50th birthday celebrations, their Arkonik adventure began not in the US, but in Northern France.
From there, Chris and Gerri pointed Celtic north, travelling through Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark before boarding a ferry across the North Atlantic to Iceland, fulfilling a long-held ambition to explore the Land of Fire and Ice behind the wheel of their own Defender.
What followed were not one, but two remarkable journeys across this extraordinary landscape.
Remote roads, river crossings and vast wilderness became the backdrop to an adventure built around exploration, shared experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.
Along the way, Chris and Gerri’s relationship with Arkonik grew far beyond that of client and manufacturer. Their passion for adventure, their enthusiasm for the Defender and their willingness to truly use it as intended have made them valued friends of Arkonik and wonderful ambassadors for everything our brand represents.
The next chapter
Fast-forward to today and Celtic has entered an entirely new chapter.
Following a comprehensive upgrade at our SVO division, its original 3.5L V8 has made way for our flagship 6.2L LT1 V8, producing close to 500hp and paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Matching suspension and braking upgrades complete the transformation, creating a Defender with considerably greater performance and capability while retaining the character that has taken Chris and Gerri on so many adventures already.
And there was a very good reason for the upgrade. Celtic has now been prepared for its next adventure: Banff, Canada.
Fancy an upgrade? Click here to discuss.
Arkonik Expeditions
Chris and his friends are currently joining us for the inaugural Arkonik Expedition. A trial experience in the Canadian Rockies that will help shape a programme we intend to develop across our Arkonik community.
Arkonik Expeditions are a natural extension of everything we believe our Defenders should represent.
A chance to escape the digital world, reconnect with nature and experience extraordinary places from behind the wheel. Incredible landscapes, memorable driving, great company and accommodation chosen for its character, comfort and sense of place.
But above all, they are about community.
When you become an Arkonik client, the relationship doesn’t end when we hand over the keys. Whether through servicing, upgrades, future adventures or simply a shared passion for these remarkable vehicles, we want Arkonik ownership to open the door to experiences that extend far beyond the Defender itself.
Existing and future Arkonik clients will become part of this growing community, with invitations to future Expeditions being released in due course.
Interested in joining us?
Interested in joining us on a future adventure? Click below to register your interest and discover more about Arkonik Expeditions
Start your journey
