Land Rover Bulwark Pickup CGI Is a Pre-Apocalypse Tool for the 2050 U.S. Farmer

We'll also still be raising crops, which is another comforting thing to know, despite the "sandstorms, flash floods, drought, wildfires, and landslides" caused by global warming. Apparently, farmers continue to ply their trade even in difficult areas such as the one between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Having set the bleak stage, it's time for our vehicle to enter. The five authors (all living in Milano, Italy) decided the best brand to come up with something that's tough and functional enough to meet the needs of the people working in one of the harshest areas of the States isn't Ford or GM - not even the local Tesla - but the Brits at Land Rover.

Looking at the company's history, you'd have to agree with them. Land Rovers have been traversing the toughest patches of unexplored land on all continents for years. The brand may be known for its relatively luxurious interiors just as much as its off-road prowess in the states, but its origins are working-class. The recently introduced Land Rover Defender Hard Top van is a long-awaited reminder of what these vehicles were all about: working in the most difficult conditions.

Their concept - which is also their thesis project - takes that and applies it to a future world where environmental conditions have made everything all the more challenging. They call it the Bulwark, which is actually a great name for a vehicle built to do what this electric pickup truck is meant for. Not only does it sound good, but also both of the word's meanings apply very well.

What is a bulwark?

A bulwark can be either a defensive wall, which the Land Rover pickup truck transforms into whenever the outside conditions worsen - for instance, the authors imagine farmer Jim having to wait through a sand storm while sitting inside the vehicle - or an extension of the ship's sides above the deck level - somewhat similar to the extending sidewalls on the concept truck's bed that deploy whenever the size of the load requires it.

Naturally, the Bulwark uses electric power, though the authors don't go into any detailed specifications. Its exterior design is just as controversial as the Tesla Cybertrucks, though that's probably the only thing the two have in common styling-wise. The Bulwark uses a rounded glass canopy for supreme visibility (you have to spot those sandstorms from afar) and a set of gullwing doors for easier access. It has seating for up to five with the two front seats pivoting to transform the cabin into a veritable lounge.

Despite the obvious focus on practicality, the concept isn't devoid of luxury. The five students imagined three trim levels - Standard, Luxury, and Duty - and their names pretty much say it all. The Luxury version gets brown leather seats that are actually made out of scraps of leather, while the rest use tough, wear-resistant materials that still look upmarket.

Obviously, a versatile vehicle like the Bulwark with its nearly vertical approach angle and other unquestionable off-road capabilities would be wasted on farmers alone. That's why the authors of the project came up with different versions that could be applied to police work or even medical activities. There's even a storyboard that depicts a search and rescue operation where a team of four people is dispatched to retrieve a wounded person.

As far as thesis projects go, the Land Rover Bulwark is pretty thorough. We have no idea what grade these guys got, but we're pretty sure they'll have a good future in the industry for their ability to think both creatively and applied and come up with a vehicle that makes total sense while staying true to the brand's ethos. And even though some parts of the styling are questionable compared to today's language used by the British company, that rear has Land Rover written all over it. Both literally and figuratively, I mean.

Project authors: Azmi Kivanc Celikoz, Diogo Silva, Filippo Barisione, Riccardo Pezzetta, Satyam Bajpai