Jaguar Land Rover has different new models in the making, and it appears that the ‘baby’ Defender is one of them. Mind you, this isn’t the first time we have heard rumors that the British automaker is planning a new SUV that would slot under the Defender. Now, however, WhatCar reports that it is approximately two years away.
The British website claims that it should
launch with front-wheel drive and a small 1.5-liter, three-cylinder petrol
engine, with other powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid, joining the lineup
later on alongside the four-wheel drive variant(s). Previous reports have
claimed that the ‘baby’ Defender will be based on a shorter and more affordable
version of the company’s modular aluminum platform.
While the full-sized off-roader is listed
from a little over £ 40,000 (US$ 51,800) in its home market, the smaller
SUV is expected to start at around £ 25,000 (US$ 32,400). If true, then it would
become more affordable than the Discovery Sport too, which is priced from
nearly £ 32,000 (US$ 41,500) in the United Kingdom.
The official name of the model is unknown,
but it has been reported that it might be dubbed either the Land Rover 80 or
the Land Rover Defender 80. WhatCar believes that it’s likely a new moniker
will be used and it might even start a sub-brand for more affordable Land
Rovers.
