Land Rover reportedly birthing the ‘Baby’ Defender

By: CAR magazine

According to reports, a new version of the Land Rover Defender, more compact in design, is set to debut, and it will be fully electric, as revealed by a Jaguar-Land Rover official at an investor gathering, as cited by Autocar.

Referred to as the “baby” Defender by Autocar, this smaller model will be constructed on JLR’s Electric Modular Architecture (EMA) and is projected for release in 2027. Along with the next iterations of the Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Velar, and Land Rover Discovery Sport, the “baby” Defender will be one of four vehicles utilizing the EMA platform, as detailed by Autocar.

With the dimensions of the EMA platform, the compact Defender (potentially bearing the Defender Sport name) is anticipated to measure around 15 feet in length and 6.5 feet in width, thus placing it slightly below the size of the BMW X3.

Rather than replacing the current full-sized SUV in Land Rover’s portfolio, this downsized Defender will complement it. Autocar indicates that the succeeding generation of the standard Defender is scheduled for a 2026 release, utilizing the company’s Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) platform. The MLA platform accommodates both entirely electric and hybrid internal combustion engine (ICE) power systems. It’s during this time that the first fully electric full-size Defender is anticipated to make its debut.

Related: A date on the dunes with two generation of Defenders

Referred to as the “baby” Defender by Autocar, this smaller model will be constructed on JLR’s Electric Modular Architecture (EMA) and is projected for release in 2027. Along with the next iterations of the Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Velar, and Land Rover Discovery Sport, the “baby” Defender will be one of four vehicles utilizing the EMA platform, as detailed by Autocar.

With the dimensions of the EMA platform, the compact Defender (potentially bearing the Defender Sport name) is anticipated to measure around 15 feet in length and 6.5 feet in width, thus placing it slightly below the size of the BMW X3.

Rather than replacing the current full-sized SUV in Land Rover’s portfolio, this downsized Defender will complement it. Autocar indicates that the succeeding generation of the standard Defender is scheduled for a 2026 release, utilizing the company’s Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) platform. The MLA platform accommodates both entirely electric and hybrid internal combustion engine (ICE) power systems. It’s during this time that the first fully electric full-size Defender is anticipated to make its debut.

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