- New Land Rover Defender pick-up unveiled
- Collab between Heritage Customs and Urban Automotive
- Modern Defender has never enjoyed a pick-up variant
- Coachbuilt model shows Land Rover what it's missing!
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The Land Rover Defender has been reinvented as a practical pick-up, thanks to a new industry collaboration.
There’s been talk of a new Defender pick-up since the SUV replaced the classic off-roader back in 2019, and it’s finally become a reality. It just isn’t from the factory.
A collaboration between two British coachbuilders, Heritage Customs and Urban Automotive, has resulted in the world’s first Defender pick-up.
Land Rover initially hinted that it was looking to extend the Defender range back in 2021, but it never got past the rumour stage. The other models in the Defender range — the 90, 110 and 130 models — thrived, but the pick-up didn’t make it off the drawing board, leaving an opportunity for the aftermarket to step in.
Urban Automotive and Heritage Customs, both part of the AM Group, started with a Land Rover Defender 130 fitted with a 425hp 5.0-litre V8 engine, but the two divisions tackled the development and build very differently.
The Heritage Edition (above) was classically designed with a refined, elegant style. This version elevates the timeless simplicity of the original Defender crew cab, though it has been reimagined with luxury materials and handcrafted details that move it away from its more utilitarian roots.
The Urban Edition (below) is more aggressive, with a bold and modern look. It embodies the company’s “OEM+” ethos, with an engaging road presence and muscular styling that, coupled with contemporary touches, make it unapologetically Urban.
CEO of AM Group, Patrick Meijer, described the joint effort as “another unique project that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in the luxury vehicle modification sector.”
Jan-Pieter Kroezen of Heritage Customs: “After completing the convertible, it felt like the right time to bring another ‘forgotten’ Defender model back to life — the pick-up. The classic 110 crew cab has always been one of the most desirable Defenders ever made, and I’m proud that we’ve captured that same spirit with the new Defender 130.”
You might expect a vehicle labelled ‘pick-up’ to be a mud-splattered workhorse that revolves around payload and towing, but in this instance, you’d be wrong. The coach-built Defender Pick-up is not aimed at the usual suspects — farmers, builders, and workers — but at collectors and luxury buyers. Bespoke interiors, premium trim, and prices that will comfortably stretch into six figures should be expected.
That said, however, it is a fascinating insight into what a modern Defender pick-up could have been if Land Rover had pursued its plans, and suggests that the format still has visual and emotional appeal in the market.
The Urban Edition will make its public debut in July 2026 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, but Heritage Customs has already revealed the Heritage Edition at a private event in the Netherlands.
These coach-built vehicles won’t be mass-produced versions. Expect a small-scale production run, making them rare and likely expensive, though most will have been sold before they are even seen.
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