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Baby Land Rover Defender Sport has been confirmed to get hybrid and electric propulsions courtesy of the new EMA platform
The upcoming compact Defender will be sold with hybrid and battery-electric powertrains – expanding the scope of a model previously associated mainly with an electric powertrain. JLR has confirmed that the new EMA architecture will support HEV and BEV applications enabling the smaller Defender to serve a variety of markets. The production name has not been announced but the Defender Sport has frequently been linked to the project.
The addition of hybrid propulsion carries relevance for the United States – the largest market for Defender. Electric vehicle sales have slowed compared to earlier forecasts while diesel still accounts for a sizeable portion of Defender sales in the United Kingdom. Offering more than one propulsion type would allow JLR to address regional preferences.
Positioned below the Defender 90, the new model is tipped to measure slightly over 4.5 metres in length. The smaller footprint will give Defender an entry into a more compact SUV class while retaining four-wheel drive and the upright styling associated with the badge. The vehicle will be an entirely separate product – not an electric recreation of the current Defender 90.
The EMA platform places the battery beneath the passenger compartment and was created primarily around electric propulsion. Future Range Rover Evoque and Velar models will also use this architecture while larger JLR products will rely on a different platform. The electric Defender Sport could use one motor at each axle to provide four-wheel drive but JLR has not released any official figures yet.
The underfloor battery layout will impose limits on suspension travel and axle articulation compared to the current Defender. Off-road ability will still be a central part of the programme with JLR seeking to preserve the durability, traction and terrain capability expected from a Defender. Meanwhile, the tall roof, steep glass angles and rear profile associated with Defender styling also create an aerodynamic challenge for an electric SUV.
The compact offering will become the first separate product introduced after Defender was established as its own brand within JLR. The present portfolio consists of the Defender 90, 110, and 130 alongside the Octa and commercial Hardtop derivatives globally. Future additions could move into smaller European-friendly sizes or body styles suited to the US market including a possible pick-up.
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