Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed that its upcoming ‘baby Defender’ – the second model under the Defender brand – will be offered with both hybrid and fully electric powertrains. Widely reported to be christened the Defender Sport, the new model will likely be positioned below the existing Defender and is tipped to debut sometime in 2027.
- Baby Defender likely to be over 4.5 metres in length
- Off-road capability said to be a focus despite battery-related limitations
- Development of baby Defender is “well advanced”
The upcoming SUV is expected to become the first entirely new Defender model since JLR transformed Defender into a standalone brand under its House of Brands strategy, alongside Range Rover and Discovery. It will also be the first model in what is expected to become a significantly expanded Defender portfolio.
JLR’s EMA platform expanded to support hybrids
While prior reports suggested that the compact Defender would be exclusively electric and built on JLR’s Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA), the carmaker has now confirmed that the platform “will now include the option of HEV (hybrid) as well as BEV” powertrains. The compact Defender is also expected to measure just over 4.5 metres long.
JLR's decision to introduce hybrid powertrains alongside electric versions appears to reflect slower-than-expected EV adoption globally. Mark Cameron, the managing director for the Defender and Discovery brands, pointed out to Autocar UK the complexity of global demand, particularly in the United States, which has now become Defender’s largest market.
“Our strategy is to offer as much choice for as long as we can,” Cameron said. “As long as we can keep selling petrol and diesel with hybridisation and other forms of interim technology, we’ll continue to do so.”
Interestingly, the current Defender can be had with a plug-in hybrid powertrain in some markets, but due to packaging constraints of the older D7 platform, it gets a four-cylinder engine and limited all-electric range. Cameron suggested this will change in time, saying, “We’re going to be relying on future generations and different architectures to expand those sorts of technologies.”
JLR wants to keep Defender DNA intact for the compact model
Despite moving to an electric-first architecture, maintaining the Defender’s off-road credentials remains a priority. Cameron acknowledged that packaging underfloor batteries creates certain limitations compared to the larger Defender.
“The size of the vehicle and platform will probably reduce wheel travel and articulation compared to a current Defender,” Cameron said. However, he stressed that JLR remains committed to delivering segment-leading off-road prowess, adding that the new model will be “class-leading in the attributes that make it a Defender”.
Cameron also noted the challenges of combining electric efficiency with the Defender’s signature design, which he described as “very upright”, with sharp window angles and a bluff rear end.
“The capability we have in our vehicles carries a penalty that works against you when you think about range for an EV. My job is to make sure we retain Defender’s DNA. Otherwise, we become another SUV brand, and there are plenty of those,” he remarked.
Lastly, Cameron stated that development of the upcoming compact Defender is “well advanced”, though he stopped short of confirming its name or launch timeline.