Baby Land Rover Defender in Works

Land Rover confirmed that it will introduce a new “baby” Defender soon. Speaking at a recent investor conference, JLR CEO Adrian Mardell stated that the compact 4x4 has been on the cards for a while now, but is yet to officially appear on any JLR product roadmap presentations. The new SUV, likely to be named the Defender Sport, will become the fourth model in the lineup. We take a closer look.

Land Rover Defender Sport: What is it?

The new Defender Sport will be underpinned by the new EMA platform that is also going to be used by the next-gen Range Rover Evoque, Discovery and Velar. While the announcement didn’t reveal any details, the new SUV using the electric-only EMA architecture reveals a few details. It will be much smaller than the current ICE-powered Defender, at around 4.6 metres in length, 2 metres in width and around 1.8 metres in height. The new model will also be more road-focused and offer a unique avenue for the new car buyer.

Meanwhile, Land Rover could also unveil the all-electric Defender by 2026, which will use the MLA platform of the new Range Rover.

Land Rover Defender Sport: Even More Rugged

Recently, JLR decided to separate each of its four core brands, Jaguar, Discover, Range Rover, and Defender, into four distinct lines and entities. Called the ‘House of Brands’ retail strategy, part of this brand separation means the Defender line-up will ‘embrace the impossible’, a nod to the original SUV’s renowned off-road prowess.

JLR Marketing Director, Anthony Bradbury, said, “It’s an explorer’s vehicle, it’s always pushed boundaries, it’s always physically allowed you to do things no other vehicle can.” Defender-badged cars, he said, must have “that feeling of activation, of doing”.

The upcoming Defender Sport will embody the rugged and go-anywhere capability that has made the nameplate legendary. The body will have squared-off edges, simple panels, and heavy body cladding to make sure it is instantly identifiable as a Defender as well as keep the bigger SUV’s off-reading credentials.

While JLR did not mention when it will be launching, the new Defender Sport is likely to go on sale sometime around 2027.

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