JLR exec paves way for Land Rover Defender ute

Land Rover is planning to introduce a pick-up version of the new Land Rover Defender that's set to blend an extended load bed with near-unstoppable capability off-road.

Land Rover executives have previously denied a pick-up was part of the reborn Defender's product plan, despite engineers confirming a utility based on the monocoque-underpinned SUV was still technically possible.

However, the pick-up is back on the agenda following comments from a senior product planner for JLR in the UK.

When Autocar asked JLR's Nick Collins if a Land Rover Defender ute was possible, the director of vehicle programs repeated that not only was a pick-up feasible, there was enough customer demand to justify one.

Collins also repeated his claim that there were "no structural limitations" to creating a Defender ute, saying "you can make a pick-up from a monocoque".

Adding fuel to the rumours a Defender pick-up is on the way, Collins added that "we always said the Defender would be a family”.

He also said we should “watch this space” with regards to a future Defender ute.

Aimed squarely at buyers in the US, Australia and even in Europe where the pick-up segment is growing, the Defender ute is expected to be based on either the current 110 version or the upcoming 130 that features an extended wheelbase.

Body-styles have not been locked in, but it's likely the load bed length will be sacrificed to make the Defender a double-cab rival to the Jeep Gladiator.

Despite being feasible, there's no mention of how the monocoque-based Defender pick-up's payload will be affected.

It's unlikely the car-like underpinnings will be capable of carrying anywhere near one tonne, suggesting the Land Rover ute will be a strictly lifestyle vehicle.

There's no date for when the Land Rover Defender pick-up will be introduced, but it's expected to be offered with the standard petrol and diesel engines and, potentially, upcoming plug-in hybrid powertrains.