Land Rover Confirms "Baby Defender" Project on Track, to Be Built on EV Platform

Mark Cameron, Land Rover’s brand director, recently confirmed to Autocar that the long-rumored “Baby Defender” project is still moving forward and development has progressed “quite deeply.” This compact SUV will become the second model under the Defender sub-brand, positioned slightly below the current Defender but retaining its core off-road capabilities. The new vehicle is expected to be built on Jaguar Land Rover’s new EMA all-electric platform, featuring a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. With an overall length of approximately 177 inches—slightly larger than the Ford Bronco Sport—it will compete directly against Mercedes-Benz’s upcoming mini G-Class. Although its smaller size and electric architecture may impose certain limitations, Land Rover emphasized that it will remain true to the Defender’s rugged DNA. In the long term, Defender is set to evolve into an independent luxury lifestyle sub-brand, offering multiple SUVs with distinct styling and engineering calibrations.