A brand new mini Land Rover electrical SUV is reportedly due out and will go by the identify “Defender Sport.” Regardless of its compact dimension, the brand new EV will carry the model’s iconic rugged, open-road mentality.

In keeping with Autocar, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has been tossing across the concept of a compact SUV however has but to disclose it in any of its public plans.

The transfer to broaden the Defender model and add a mini electrical SUV was confirmed by CEO Adrian Mardell at a latest JLR investor convention. Mardell said, “Vary Rover, Defender, and Discovery will come off the platform,” concerning the corporate’s new EMA electrical car platform.

After revealing plans to rework its Halewood facility final yr, the automaker mentioned it could construct at the very least three or 4 EVs on the plant.

The brand new electrical fashions embrace the Land Rover Discovery Sport, Vary Rover Evoque, and Vary Rover Velar. Now, the thriller fourth EV has been revealed.

Mini Land Rover Defender Sport electrical SUV due in 2027

Though no different particulars have been confirmed concerning the mini Defender, the truth that it would journey on the EV-only EMA platform provides us sufficient to work with.

The brand new mini Discovery electrical SUV can be a lot smaller than the gas-powered variations you see on the street right this moment. The anticipated Land Rover Uncover Sport will journey on its MLA structure, designed for each ICE and future electrical Vary Rover variants.

Jaguar Land Rover is seeking to maximize the worth of every model after asserting its new rebranding technique in June.

The brand new plans name for Vary Rover, Defender, Discovery, and Jaguar to turn out to be their very own particular person manufacturers, whereas Land Rover will stay “a key a part of the corporate’s DNA.”

Talking with Autocar, JLR’s advertising director, Anthony Bradbury, lately mentioned the Defender is “an explorer’s car, it’s at all times pushed boundaries, it’s at all times bodily allowed you to do issues no different car can. It’s about that spirit of embracing the not possible, and it has been like that for 75 years.”

Even its smallest car, if it wears the Defender identify, will need to have “that feeling of activation, of doing” whereas embracing the model’s rugged, open-road mentality.

The 800 V EMA platform will possible be able to a peak price of 350 kW. In the meantime, the batteries can have a lot increased power density than the present Jaguar I-Tempo, with a brand new partnership with Agratas (Tata Group) to produce battery packs with as much as 450 miles vary.

Smaller, extra environment friendly batteries will allow extra cabin room and a raised journey top, two options consumers are demanding.

The Defender is considered one of JLR’s high money-makers. Together with the Vary Rover and Vary Rover Sport, the three accounted for 76% of the 185K order financial institution within the first quarter of 2023.

A lower-priced, mini electrical Defender Sport SUV would give the model one other potential high-volume vendor because it strikes into the EV period. The brand new EV is reportedly due out by 2027.