Land Rover Defender Lineup Could Spawn A Pickup

• From the onset, a pickup version was always possible.

• Land Rover knows there’s demand for such a vehicle.

• It will likely be based on the 110.

Some vehicle models have potential built-in. This is the case with the new Land Rover Defender that not only has a history of interesting versions behind it but because it is a Defender, and as long as it maintains its capabilities, buyers will want one. This would certainly be true of a pickup version of the SUV.

 

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Hints surrounding the possibility of such a vehicle have circulated, many coming from the firm itself. Now, according to Autocar, Jaguar Land Rover’s executive director of vehicle programmes, Nick Collins, transforming the Defender 110 into a pickup is not only very feasible but “there is customer demand” enough to justify building it.

Midsize pickups is a segment that is growing and that holds a fair amount of potential. The likes of the Ford Ranger, new Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, Honda Ridgeline, are all interesting in their own right. Clearly, the Land Rover would be priced higher however the Defender will likely be offered in numerous trims, from a more basic setup to a fully-loaded version.

Land Rover has said that the Defender will be a family and a pickup would be a welcomed addition. A long wheelbase Defender 130 is also in the works as are PHEVs and others.