[RahulNagaraj]

According to a media report, JLR is planning to extend the model lineup of its Defender brand with the addition of a smaller off-roader. The new 'baby Defender', as it is referred to, is currently under development and will join the model lineup in 2027, as confirmed by the company's CEO Adrian Mardell.



The new baby Defender will reportedly be offered as a four-door SUV and will be 420 mm shorter than the Defender 110 - making it around the same size as a Skoda Kodiaq.

The upcoming baby Defender will be based on JLR's upcoming EMA electrified vehicle platform, which will also underpin the next-generation iterations of other small SUVs such as the Range Rover Evoque and the Discovery Sport. The new EMA platform allows JLR to offer the models with either a hybrid powertrain or introduce their fully-electric versions at a later stage.

JLR recently underwent a major restructuring, with the Discovery, Defender and Range Rover nameplates becoming brands in their own right. The company took a step-back with the 'Land Rover' name, making use of it as a Trust mark. It has also changed its name from Jaguar Land Rover to 'JLR', while introducing a simplified new logo.

Source: Autocar UK

Link to Team-BHP news

[shankar.balan]

The Baby Defender will definitely be an attractive proposition and ought to perform well off road too, being of shorter length. If only Tata would set up a plant here and manufacture these in India, they could offer them to us at more reasonable prices. At this point no normal person can afford to buy and own such vehicles except from the second hand market.

[chanz2015]

Originally Posted by RahulNagaraj

The new baby Defender will reportedly be offered as a four-door SUV and will be 420 mm shorter than the Defender 110 - making it around the same size as a Skoda Kodiaq.

420mm shorter than Defender 110 makes it the same size as of Defender 90. Will this model be a replacement for 90 or exists alongside 90 as an offroader?

[Black_Star]

Originally Posted by chanz2015

420mm shorter than Defender 110 makes it the same size as of Defender 90. Will this model be a replacement for 90 or exists alongside 90 as an offroader?

This model will be positioned under the 90, but expect it to lose some equipment and premium features, as they dont want the new model to cannibalize the sales of the 90 and 110, but still attract new customers.

[Dry Ice]

I feel this will be the Freelander’s spiritual successor rather than being a stripped down Defender. Freelander was probably their least successful brand. So, calling it a baby Defender (instead of New Freelander) is enough to create a positive buzz.

[Santy19]

Is very unlikely that they will bring back Freelander marquee, as ethos of it completely different than Defender and in some markets the brand “Defender” is much bigger than the brand “Land Rover”. And using a “Sport” suffix would comical IMO

Its very likely that they will add a suffix to Defender with some prototype name like they did with Range Rover Velar.

What I would like from them is to name it after some military general or historically significant battleship and connect with their military roots.

Going slightly off topic, JLR have rights to 3 other brands namely Diamler Cars, Lanchester and Rover, they were supposed to revive brand diamler as ultra luxury car company competing with Bentley and Rolls Royces of the world, any updates on it?