Land Rover's Mini Defender EV Might Not Remain Electric For Long | Carscoops

      JLR is set to become the latest brand to redesign its electric vehicle offerings due to a slower-than-anticipated adoption of EVs.

      17 hours ago

      by Chris Chilton

      The smaller electric vehicle from Land Rover, known as the Defender Sport, has been spotted undergoing tests again.

      This compact SUV utilizes the same EMA platform as the forthcoming Evoque EV.

      JLR might revise the platform to capitalize on the high demand for hybrids.

      The impressive transformation of the Defender by JLR dispelled any skepticism and added millions to the company’s financial standing. Now, there are hopes that a smaller battery-powered version, slated for 2027, will achieve similar success, although it may require significant modifications to reach its full potential.

      The compact EV, intended to succeed the aging Discovery Sport and likely to be named the Defender Sport, was caught testing again this week. While the final name remains uncertain, its electric nature is clear, as evidenced by its blank grille and absence of exhaust pipes, confirming it’s based on the EMA electric architecture that will also support the upcoming Range Rover Evoque EV.

      Additionally, a smaller Land Rover Defender is on the way to compete with the baby G-Class.

      The platform will be cutting-edge, featuring 800-volt charging. JLR has invested substantial resources into this development, which includes a £500 million ($668 million) upgrade of its Halewood facility in northwest England and the establishment of a new battery production site in the southwest.

      However, given that electric vehicle sales have not surged as anticipated in major markets like the US, is JLR really willing to forgo potential sales by not providing the combustion engines that many customers still prefer in their new vehicles? Could the company alter its strategy and modify the EV-only EMA platform to also accommodate hybrid power?

      It wouldn’t be the first automaker to consider such a move. Fiat reacted to lackluster sales of its electric 500e by adding a 1.0-liter mild-hybrid petrol engine from the discontinued combustion 500. Porsche recently announced it would introduce internal combustion engine variants for premium models in its new 718 EV lineup and has abandoned plans to produce its super-SUV as an EV. Instead, this costly utility will utilize traditional combustion and hybrid engines, and Porsche is also creating a new ICE Macan to sell alongside the new Macan Electric.

      JLR has not specifically addressed any reconsideration of the EMA platform, but it announced last year, similar to many other manufacturers, that it was adopting a more cautious approach to electrification than originally intended.

      “What we've seen from other OEMs is that the rush to BEV is beginning to slow down a bit,” remarked then-CEO Adrian Mardell at the time. “The acceptance of PHEVs has been quite surprising. We are diligently working to increase the availability of more PHEVs in the marketplace.”