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Land Rover might be busy preparing a second-generation Defender ute after all.
Speaking to Autocar, Land Rover’s executive director of vehicle programmes, Nick Collins, confirmed that a new Defender ute is not only feasible, but “there is customer demand” to justify its creation.
He added that “there were no structural limitations” to the second-generation Defender large SUV’s unibody platform, and “you can make a pick-up from a monocoque”, despite most utes instead using body-on-frame construction.
That said, direct rivals would come in the form of the Honda Ridgeline and the upcoming Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick, none of which have been locked in for Australia, although the Defender ute would be a much stronger chance, but we digress.
“We always said the Defender would be a family,” Mr Collins said, noting future product plans would be “saved for another day”, although he did ask the British publication to “watch this space” regarding the ute.
Autocar claims the mooted Defender ute will be available with the choice of petrol and diesel engines from the large SUV as well as a wide range of grades, while it is likely to be exclusively offered in long-wheelbase 110 form (read: dual-cab configuration).
As reported, a Hard Top version of the Defender large SUV’s short-wheelbase 90 and long-wheelbase 110 guises was revealed last June. Being a workhorse, it goes without rear seats to maximise cargo capacity. It’s yet to get the green light for an Australian launch.
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