While 2020 could easily be flagged as an odd year for the automotive industry, it’s actually following recent trends to the letter – with crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks becoming even more popular. The latter category has received many reinforcements, and one can have an alternative to just about anything.
For example, if you have special requests there are numerous niches ready and willing to provide that special vehicle that’s perfectly capable of fulfilling them. Case in point – you might want a high-performance rock-crawler with supercar-level horsepower. Have the 2021 Ram TRX, then.
Maybe you’re feeling a little more responsible for Arnold Schwarzenegger's new stance on the climate change topic, on the other hand. Then hit reserve on the GMC HUMMER EV page and wait out for the electric pickup’s production. Or you could blend vintage British looks with modern American V8 muscle.
Yeah, that’s a niche within a niche, as per the record of E.C.D. Automotive Design – that expert Land Rover Defender shop with a love for pristine restomods. They offer anyone willing to shell out a bucket load of greenbacks (an ECD D130 project starts from $189,995!) the chance to own their unique LR Defender pickup truck.
Their latest build is called Project Suraco and comes in the form of a customized Defender 130 that was treated to a wide range of upgrades. Chief among them, an engine swap to a very American 6.2-liter V8 LS3 and its associated automatic transmission for effortless rock-crawling sessions in absolute luxury.
That’s because the other modifications cater either to the performance – or the premium side of the equation. Nothing in between, as it always should be the case with such creations. As such, Project Suraco features an upgraded suspension system, beefier brakes, and 20-inch Kahn Mondial alloys wrapped in BFGoodrich All-Terrains.
A lovely Satin Volcanic Moss Pearl with gloss details wraps around the exterior, while inside the lucky owner asked for Diamond Vertical Cadence Spice leather seats with black stitching, a Pioneer and JL Audio sound system, and a Nardi Challenge Black steering wheel, among others.
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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