- JLR adds hybrid capability to the previously electric-only EMA architecture.
- Upcoming baby Defender will now be offered in both hybrid and EV forms.
- Land Rover will offer multiple powertrain types, but Jag stays EV-only.
JLR’s baby Defender isn’t even out yet, but it’s already gone through some big changes. Originally planned as an EV, the compact SUV will now also be available in hybrid form, JLR says. The company confirmed this week that the new EMA electric platform is being reworked to support hybrid powertrains as well.
That’s a notable shift from the original plan and a clear acknowledgement that the transition to EVs isn’t happening as quickly as many expected, particularly in the US, which is JLR’s biggest market.
Related: Land Rover’s Baby Defender EV May Not Stay Electric For Long
For enthusiasts, the most immediate impact concerns the compact Defender that we’ve already been spied testing multiple times. But JLR says the mini Defender won’t be the first model built on the EMA platform. That honor goes to a vehicle “from the Range Rover brand” that we suspect is the new Velar, which we’ve also spotted in prototype form. The next Evoque will also use the EMA architecture.
JLR chiefs are adamant that the baby Defender will be true to the name, no matter what powers it, so you can forget about any front-wheel drive options. But Defender boss Mark Cameron admitted to Autocar that packaging an underfloor battery creates compromises in terms of wheel articulation. He also noted that Defender’s upright shape and bluff rear end aren’t exactly ideal when you’re chasing maximum electric range.
Hybrid, But No Plug
The new hybrid powertrain will be a traditional full hybrid, not a mild- or plug-in hybrid, but JLR didn’t divulge any more about the technical setup. It did, though, reveal that while the now-separate Range Rover, Defender, and Discovery brands will offer mild-hybrid, hybrid, plug-in-hybrid, and fully-electric options across their various model lines. The reinvented Jaguar brand is sticking steadfast to EVs. Jag’s Type 01 sedan, the four-door production version of the controversial 2024 Type 00 coupe concept, debuts later this year.
The US is the focus of JLR’s sales drive, the company says, and this week it reminded us that it recently signed a deal with Stellantis to explore products and technologies for the US market, with Defender singled out as the growth brand.
The company isn’t saying exactly what those products might be, but America’s appetite for trucks is hardly a secret. With Defender becoming a standalone brand and JLR openly targeting major US expansion, it’s not difficult to imagine an American-built Defender pickup – or maybe a jumbo-sized rugged SUV – sitting somewhere on the drawing board.
Given the Stellantis tie-up, there’s a real chance this model could ride on an existing Stellantis platform rather than JLR architecture.
