Land Rover is testing and developing a pure-electric Defender as part of its shift to zero-emission vehicles. The company has confirmed plans to electrify its three core model lines, Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender under its ‘Reimagine’ strategy.
The Defender EV is in early development, and JLR says it’s focused on getting the product right from launch. At the 2025 Investor Day in Gaydon, UK, JLR CFO Richard Molyneux said battery-electric models must be spot-on from day one, indicating the Defender EV will be launched with as much focus as the electric Range Rover and upcoming Jaguar EVs.
Electrification is central to this strategy and before the end of the decade our Range Rover, Discovery, Defender collections will each have a pure electric model, while Jaguar will be entirely electric.
JLR’s Reimagine strategy, announced in 2021
JLR is working on a different Defender EV, one that’s smaller than the current vehicle. The latter’s D7x platform does not allow an EV conversion, meaning we’ll have to wait until its next generation for its full electrification. Lennard Hoornik, JLR’s Chief Commercial Officer, told Autocar UK that packaging batteries in the existing architecture is “really, really hard.” He said the Defender EV would only arrive after a significant technical step forward in the model’s evolution.
Referred to as ‘Baby Defender’ in media reports and expected to be launched as ‘Land Rover Defender Sport,’ the first fully electric model in the Defender family is likely to sit on the EMA (Electric Modular Architecture) platform.
Spy shots have shown it featuring a proper boxy silhouette, with a few crossover-like design cues, such as a slightly angled front and rear and a rather sleek glasshouse. Like the Defender 90, its body is broader in the lower half, which helps it look muscular and powerful.
But our focus is to make them absolutely right. We only get one shot at this..get one shot to set Range Rover BEV, to set BEVs for Defenders, to set that (pointing to the Jaguar EV concept) into the market, and we’re very very well aware of that.
Richard Molyneux, Chief Financial Officer of JLR, answering a question about the transition and timing of EV launches, at the JLR Investor Day 2025 on 16 June, 2025
Inside, the first-ever Defender EV cabin layout should remain familiar but may incorporate more sustainable materials, in line with industry trends. The EMA platform, being developed exclusively for EVs, should allow much better space-packaging than the Defender’s D7x platform, including a frunk.
The Defender Sport will run JLR’s in-house developed ‘EVA Continuum’ software and electronics platform, offering 15 times the processing power of current systems. Higher-density batteries and more torque-dense motors are expected. The electric model should boast the latest connectivity solutions and entertainment options, including 5G Wi-Fi hotspot and cloud gaming.
The so-called Defender Sport will likely boast an 800-volt architecture to support ultra-fast charging, potentially at around 350 kW. A 10-80% charging session may take just around 20 minutes, and it is expected to boast a dual-motor AWD setup with 400-500 km of WLTP range.
The Defender EV will be built at JLR’s Nitra plant in Slovakia, which currently produces the Defender and Discovery models. The site has been confirmed to handle electric vehicle production in future, although the company hasn’t revealed specific model details.
From my time with the reborn Defender gasoline model, it was clear that Land Rover designed and engineered the vehicle to be a power tool on wheels. The company has captured the essence of this icon in a modern way, and the sales figures reflect that execution. While the frame SUV would be the last Land Rover to induct an all-electric variant, the smaller Defender Sport is a good start given the current limitations of battery technology and the pace of EV adoption.
Shrawan Raja, founder & editor of ElectricVehicleWeb.com
According to The Telegraph, the Defender Sport’s production is expected to begin in early 2027. It will cater to customers seeking a smaller, more city-friendly alternative to the flagship Defender. In the UK, prices may start at a little over GBP 50,000 and sales may commence in spring 2027. Other right-hand drive markets like Australia and New Zealand could get their first cars in the third quarter of that year.
Featured image: AI-generated illustration of a smaller Defender
Trained as an automobile engineer, I’ve been following the global car market since 2005. Over the past 17 years, I’ve been involved in online automotive analysis and publishing, traveling the world to drive, evaluate, and experience new cars and technologies.
