Seven 4x4s that will make you rethink that sportscar poster

Ford Ranger Raptor

When Ford re-introduced the Ranger in the US, they claimed there are no plans to make a Raptor variant. What they didn't say is that they already made one, just for the rest of the world. The Ranger Raptor is a baby F-150 Raptor for those of us who can't afford the big American full-size pickup truck. Albeit instead of a V8, you get a 2.0-liter diesel, making 213 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. Still of all the cars on this list, this is the only one you can buy in Bangladesh. Just walk up to an AG motors showroom to pre-order one.

Ineos Grenadier

What happens when your favorite vehicle goes out of production? Well, if you are a British billionaire, you build a better version of it. The Grenadier is the brainchild of one Jim Ratcliffe, chemicals magnate, car enthusiast, and the 5th richest man in the UK. As the story goes, he initially approached Jaguar-Land Rover (JLR) to buy the tooling for the old Defender, but when refused, he decided to make his own. His reimagined Defender, which took three years to develop, is sitting on a Toyota sourced ladder frame and running on a BMW powertrain. Production to start around late 2021 in a new factory in Bridgend, and according to Ineos, won't be cheap.

Land Rover Defender 110

Speaking for JLR, they rolled out their own updated the Defender a few months ago. The reception to it has been mixed, as its monocoque construction, soft panel edges and leather upholstery means it lacks the rugged no-nonsense look the old Defender. There is a method behind this madness though. JLR wants to make the profit and building a car that caters to a small niche market isn't a wise business investment. The new Defender, despite its "soft" looks, it a versatile off-roader, capable of wading 900mm of water while keeping its occupants dry and comfortable. And did we mention you can have it with a front bench seat?

Ford Bronco

Moving on to the other side of the pond to another cult classic, the blue oval has finally got around their plans to bring back the Bronco. Although we are still three days away from its official debut, there have been enough leaks for us to justify adding it to this list. The new Bronco will be a body-on-frame design based on the Ranger platform, with a removable roof, sharp edges, and a solid rear axle. Ford describes it as a "no-compromise midsize 4x4 utility for thrill-seekers," and plans to directly compete with the Jeep market. It seems like the rebellious British colony is about to out-Defender the new Defender, though we have to wait just a little bit to know for sure. 

Nikola Badger

Switching from conventional gas guzzlers to alternative energy, this Badger is the first of its kind. The truck a hydrogen fuel cell/electric hybrid, meaning the only byproduct coming out of its engine is pure water. Amusingly, Nikola's founder, Trevor Milton, claims the only reason they are making the Badger is of the Cyberetruck, whose lack of 'ascetics' compelled them to make a good looking EV truck. Whatever their reason, it means we are getting a conventional-looking truck with 906bhp and 980 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-100 of 2.9 seconds. We are certainly not complaining.

Update 30/11/2020: Well it was good while it lasted.

Honorable mentions: Rivian R1T and Tesla Cybertruck

Speaking of alternate power, we must mention these two. The only thing these two have in common is the fact that they both are electric. On the one hand, we have the Rivian R1T. A stylish, eco-friendly lifestyle truck, designed for young couples who like to adventure in the woods. On the other hand, we have a Cybertruck, which we have no idea about. Is the next phase of automotive design, a Mars rover for planet Earth, or one of the prototype armored vehicle Elon developing to outfit his secret clone army? We don't know. And to be perfectly honest, we are not sure we want to know.