Land Rover’s Next Small Off-Roader Will Keep with Tradition in the Best Way Possible

It seems Land Rover’s new baby Defender isn’t going all-electric after all. New reports and a recent spotting of a developmental test mule indicate that the British automaker is backtracking on its decision to make its new small off-roader an EV.

Instead, it’ll become a gas-electric hybrid. Speaking to our buddies across the pond at AutoCar, chief product manager for the Defender and Discover, Mark Cameron, said his team made major adjustments to Jaguar-Land Rover’s new and highly anticipated EMA platform.

No more range anxiety

When Land Rover tipped the world on its decision to build a new, smaller and more affordable Defender model, the British automaker pledged to make it one of the brand’s first EVs. It was a part of Jaguar-Land Rover’s ambitious electrification strategy, which ultimately had the carmaker ditching internal combustion power altogether.

However, similar to other automakers, JLR saw the writing on the wall in regards to the EV’s lukewarm reception. At least, here in America, one of its biggest markets.

Thus, the British conglomerate decided to pivot from its all-electric future to a semi-electric one. More specifically, a gas-electric hybrid one.

Land Rover

According to the report, JLR is shifting its focus on hybridization rather than going full electric. Though, at least for Jaguar, the EV plans remain in place.

As a result, those looking forward to the new baby Defender won’t have to be worried about range anxiety or the ownership complications of having an EV.

Cameron confirmed to AutoCar that JLR’s new platform, EMA, “will now include the option of HEV [hybrid] as well as BEV [battery-electric]” power. The EMA platform is what the new baby Defender will ride on.

Expanding Defender as a subbrand

Land Rover

When the new baby Defender arrives, it will further Land Rover’s plans to spin off the Defender nameplate into its own sub-brand. It’s a marketing and nomenclature move that the brand originally made with its other models.

For example, when Land Rover launched the Range Rover Sport, the carmaker continued branding Range Rover models as their own, despite unmistakably being Land Rovers. Although Range Rover models do have Land Rover badges here and there, they’re mostly “Range Rover” badges on the exterior and interior.

Land Rover USA

The Range Rover lineup has since expanded to the Evoque and Velar. The same strategy also defined the Discovery models, with the Discovery Sport and standard variant.

Now, Land Rover wants to do the same with the Defender, which consists of three bodystyles: 90, 110 and 130. With the arrival of the baby Defender, speculation suggests with the smaller model being named the “Defender Sport.”

Land Rover

“We’ve got a portfolio of one model with several variants, but I’m working seven to 10 years ahead to build out this whole brand portfolio,” Cameron continued.

“We’ve got to make sure everything we do as Defender has the DNA of the brand: epic built-to-last, go-anywhere capability.”

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