Defender is going to be one of the most capable SUVs in the market. The British company will try to use the swing and bring it over to the truck segment. Well, this transformation is not easy, although the SUV is built on BoF architecture. JLR needs a lot more upgrades to make the 2021 Land Rover Defender pickup truck competitive. Still, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Rumors are not coming from trusted sources, but the speculation can mean something.
The first renders are not promising (by spdesignsest via Instagram). Nevertheless, fans are looking forward to learning more about JLR’s plans and the possible debut of the 2021 Land Rover Defender Pickup Truck. But, do not expect too much. Even if this dream comes true, the carmaker will just unveil plans for the future. The production of the truck is not starting so soon. If we are lucky, the pickup could be at dealerships in 2022.
2021 Land Rover Defender Pickup Truck Specs
This is the easiest thing to guess. The SUV is very capable thanks to its engine lineup. JLR is offering a wide choice on every one of their big rigs. For the Defender, the base solution is a 2.0-liter turbocharged mill. It might seem a bit small, but the four-pot unit produces 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is sending power to all wheels, which is a trademark feature of Land Rover vehicles.
One of the big things the 2021 Land Rover Defender Pickup Truck can bring to the market is the PHEV configuration. JLR names it P400. A 3.0-liter petrol engine is paired with a mild-hybrid system. The inline-six unit gains extra power and raises the bar to 400 ponies. Still, the major question is if the Defender can tow with the PHEV configuration. Without problems! The SUV’s towing capacity is 8,200 pounds, which is more than any mid-size truck can do.
Verdict
There are a lot of questions regarding the 2021 Land Rover Defender Pickup Truck. First of all, this market is now one of the most popular in the US. On the other hand, truckers are not so keen on the premium models. They need working machines. Well, 8,200 pounds of towing capacity is a good bait. Still, there is a long way to go for the JLR before it becomes a serious player in this market. We can see a lot of production-ready concepts. However, Hyundai, Kia, and some other luxury models are still waiting for the green light.
Land Rover is definitely becoming an important factor in the US market. Now, the British company is ready to take another step, this time to the whole new world. The pickup truck industry is generating the most profit. But, it is not easy to survive here. Even Ford, as a leading truckmaker in the world, made a break with the Ranger mid-size pickup for the United States. But, the market is recovering, so we saw a couple of debuts recently. Ranger came back, Jeep introduced Gladiator. Could 2021 Land Rover Defender Truck be next?