Land Rover Defender Could Get A Pick-up Iteration

• The original Defender did have the option of a pick-up variant, so this feature would essentially be a comeback for the Defender moniker.

• Likely to be offered in the 110 body style, with petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrain options.

• India-spec Defender will see the P400e plug-in hybrid join the lineup by April 2021.

The, currently offered in the 3-door (90) and 5-door (110) body styles, is well known for its off-roading prowess and boxy SUV proportions. Now, reports suggest the Defender range could expand into the pick-up truck segment.

In a report, Jaguar Land Rover's Executive Director of Vehicle Programmes, Nick Collins, said, "there were no structural limitations" to a Defender pick-up and that "you can make a pick-up from a monocoque".

Actually, a pick-up variant isn't new for the Defender. The original icon was offered with a pick-up variant with a removable hard-top, canvas tilt, or completely open. So, you could say its introduction to the current-gen Defender is a comeback of sorts.

As for what to expect for the Defender pick-up variant, it's likely to be offered exclusively in the 110 ( 5-door) body style with a choice of petrol and diesel engine options. Plug-in-hybrid powertrains could also be on the cards. If the Land Rover Defender pick-up does come into fruition, expect it to garner a premium over the standard model.

Back home, the Defender retails from Rs 73.98 lakh to Rs 1.08 crore (ex-showroom) and is offered only with a 300PS 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine. Meanwhile, bookings for the is its closest match in terms of off-road thrills.