New baby to join Land ROVER DEFENDER family

Fresh platform to underpin compact EV that will in effect replace Discovery Sport and is due on sale in 2027

- Jordan Katsianis

LAND Rover is about to reveal its all-new ‘baby’ Defender, with all-electric powertrains and a chunky, rugged design - and our exclusive image shows what we expect it to look like.

The company has toyed with a smaller version of its 4x4 for years, but only now is the new car close to being introduced.

Designed to sit in the company’s range underneath the existing Defender in both price and stature, the newcomer will in effect be a replacement for the Discovery Sport.

The new model is critical for JLR, joining a big-selling segment at a time when the company’s profits have been hit from every angle. Prototypes have been spotted testing in near-production form, giving us our first look at how Land Rover's designers will transform the Defender into a smaller package.

As our image illustrates, the new car is likely to have a boxy and upright shape, but there will be a few key changes from its big brother. These include thinner front lights and a sleeker angle to the nose, making it less bluff than on a Defender.

Black wheelarches and lower bumpers will emphasise its off-road credentials, and our picture shows the car fitted with rugged-looking wheels and tyres. However, customers will also be able to choose a more road-biased look, with larger wheels and body-coloured panels.