22:11 05-11-2025

Coachbuilt Land Rover Defender 130 pickup: Heritage Custom vs Urban Automotive

The legendary Land Rover Defender is reinventing itself once again—this time as a pickup. Two European coachbuilders, Heritage Custom and Urban Automotive, have each created their own take on the Defender 130 with a 419-hp V8, pursuing very different design directions.

According to 32CARS.RU, Heritage Custom presented an elegant version inspired by its Valiance model, with a premiere on October 30 in the Netherlands. Urban Automotive, by contrast, leans into aggression and futurism; its pickup is set to be shown in the summer of 2026 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The main structural change is the redesigned rear. The cabin is shorter, and in its place sits a compact cargo bed. Even so, the pickups keep the Defender’s recognizable silhouette, balancing clean lines with muscular presence. Pricing is around $178,000—roughly three times the base Defender 130.

The Defender Pickup reads like a statement piece for collectors: an evolution of a legend that stays true to its off-road spirit while stepping firmly into the world of luxury and exclusive design. The contrast between the two interpretations feels natural—and it suits the Defender’s character.