Startech Turns Range Rover into Haute Couture Pickup

Some of the weirdest tuner projects are answers to unasked questions. In this respect, Startech, the sister operation to Brabus, has delivered.

Built for display at the Shanghai auto show, and available to deep-pocketed bored guys, the Startech Pickup is what happens when you break out the Homelite and turn a Range Rover Supercharged from an SUV into an SUT. The El Camino–fication process involves the removal of the rear portion of the Rangie’s roof, the installation of a new bulkhead (with tinted, heated glass) behind the back seats, new carbon-fiber trim on the C-pillar and bed rail, and a lined cargo area.

A new roof spoiler works in concert with the surrounding cargo-bed trim to reduce wind turbulence. This is important when you consider that Startech says “customers from the Arab region like to use the pickup bed also for transporting a securely fastened cage that holds their falcons for the hunt.” Presumptuous, considering that this particular subset of customers probably has up fitted AMG 6×6s for this purpose already. But it’s nice to know the Startech Pickup is literally designed to not ruffle feathers. The tuner also points out that the bed, with its 43-inch length (67 inches with the tailgate dropped) “offers plenty of space for golf or other recreational equipment.” Because Lord knows that your clubs are far too constrained in an enclosed Range Rover cargo bay.

Naturally, the pickup bed is just part of a larger package of enhancements. The truck sports a wide-body kit, 23-inch wheels wrapped in 305/30 rubber, an air-suspension module that lets the owner drop ride height an additional 1.2 inches over stock, and a custom leather-and-Alcantara interior. While the show car is based on the blown Range Rover—now juiced up to 519 horsepower thanks to a Startech sport exhaust whose loudness can be controlled from the cockpit—the conversion can be applied to a naturally aspirated Range Rover model. As a bonus, the truck bed may, in some countries, allow this rig to be registered as a commercial vehicle, saving the owner money in various taxes and fees compared to a traditional SUV. Because as we all know, guys who buy Range Rovers and have them customized into pickup trucks ideal for hauling live falcons are really sweating those registration costs.