Report: Small ‘Baby Defender’ EV In The Works For 2027 Launch

An all-electric 'baby' version of the Defender is reportedly in the works, and it will debut in 2027 as the first model from the 'Defender' sub-brand.

According to Autocar UK, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is set to properly develop its ‘Defender’ sub-brand, and its first offering will come in the form of a smaller ‘Baby Defender’ EV SUV that will enter a new marketspace for the group.

Set to underpin JLR’s new Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA) platform like the next generation Range Rover Evoque, Velar and Land Rover Discovery sport, this new baby EV SUV is set to arrive as early as 2027. Autocar UK further reports that it will be christened as the ‘Defender Sport’ too.

Reportedly set to be christened as the 'Defender Sport', said new model will underpin JLR's EMA platform.

Set to share the same EMA platform too are the next-gen Range Rover Velar (left) and
Land Rover Discovery Sport (right).

The existence of the baby Defender was confirmed by JLR’s recently appointed new CEO Adrian Mardell, who told attendees during an investor conference that the “Range Rover, Defender and Discovery brands will come off [the EMA] platform.”

Through the EMA architecture, it will allow JLR to introduce fully-electric SUVs within the second half of this decade. Though engineered to be ‘electric-first’, said platform can also house either traditional combustion (ICE) and hybrid (HEV/PHEV) setups on top of a fully-electric one.

The new Defender sub-brand is set to feature model that are both more rugged in appearance and boast substantial off-road abilities.

Despite so, the report suggests that the upcoming Defender Sport will not see neither an ICE or HEV/PHEV twin – it will be a full EV from the ground up instead. Also, this won’t be the only EV model from the new sub-brand as more are being planned for the future.

Traditionally, JLR uses the ‘Sport’ suffix to denote a smaller – read: compact – alternative towards an existing nameplate from the Land Rover brand. Despite so, the report further indicates that this new Defender Sport won’t be as small as it sounds, measuring 4,600 MM long and 2,000 MM wide.

Presently, the existing new Land Rover Defender already comes in three varying sizes and bodystyles. The smallest of the lot is the three-door Defender 90, which slots below a five-door Defender 110 and an extended wheelbase five-door Defender 130 options.

Would you be keen on a smaller, more compact and all-electric flavour of the mighty Defender?

As a refresher, JLR had announced earlier this year that its vehicles will be segregated into four core sub-brands, those being Jaguar, Discovery, Range Rover, and Defender. The Land Rover brand may still appear on some of which, but is being demoted to a ‘trust mark’ status within the group.

For the Defender sub-brand specifically, it is set to feature more rugged styling and feature substantial off-road capabilities over its counterparts.