Land Rover Nixes Pickup Plans

Jaguar Land Rover Ltd. has decided not to build a pickup variant of the redesigned Land Rover Defender SUV.

The upcoming long-wheelbase Defender 130 model has the cargo capacity and utility of a pickup, thereby eliminating the need for such a model, JLR sources tell Australia’s CarSales.

Previous reports indicated the Defender-based pickup could be introduced by late 2020 or early 2021. The vehicle was to have been a dual-cab truck, according to leaked Land Rover documents.

Land Rover unveiled the 2020 Defender 110 SUV (pictured), including a mild-hybrid option, this week at the Frankfurt auto show. The 130 variant is expected to increase overall length by 13 inches to 200 inches from bumper to bumper. A smaller two-door Defender 90 model also is in the works.