New Land Rover Defender “Sport” confirmed – Everything you need to know

Land Rover is planning to introduce a new, smaller version of its fan-favourite Defender series, according to a report by Autocar.

In a recent investor conference, an executive at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) said that a new Defender would arrive in dealerships by 2027 and that it will be a more compact model slotting in below the 90, 110, and 130.

While not yet confirmed, the new Defender is expected to carry the “Sport” nameplate, a title reserved for the more affordable units in the Jaguar Land Rover stable such as the Land Rover Discovery Sport and the Range Rover Sport.

What we know so far

The decision to introduce a new model to the Defender range stems from the company’s “House of Brands” strategy to split its four main nameplates – Jaguar, Defender, Discovery, and Range Rover – into distinct entities that would operate independently of one another.

The new vehicle will be built on the automaker’s Electric Modular Architecture (EMA) platform, much like the next-generation Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Velar, and Land Rover Discovery Sport, meaning it’s likely to be the first all-electric Defender as well.

The EMA platform also hints that the new SUV will share similar dimensions as its platform-mates, clocking in at roughly 4.6m long, 2m wide, and less than 1.8m tall, according to Autocar.

This makes it slightly more compact than the Defender 90, and significantly smaller in comparison to the 110 and 130. As another reference, these dimensions would make the Sport comparable to something like the BMW X3.

Defender 90, currently the smallest Defender on the market

While no powertrain details have been revealed, the 4×4 is expected to feature an 800V charging architecture capable of supporting a 350kW rapid charger in line with the other EMA vehicles, making it much more energy-intensive than the current Jaguar I-Pace.

When asked about whether the electric modular platform would impact the Defender’s prowess as an off-road vehicle, JLR’s marketing director Anthony Bradbury told Autocar that the Defender brand would continue to uphold its “explorer” roots.

“It’s an explorer’s vehicle, it’s always pushed boundaries, it’s always physically allowed you to do things no other vehicle can. It’s about that spirit of embracing the impossible, and it has been like that for 75 years,” he said.

More details about the new Defender Sport, or “baby Defender”, will be revealed as the development cycle continues.