The Land Rover Defender may undergo a major mid-generational update in mid-2020s, spawning a battery-electric modification based on a different architecture, Auto Express reports citing its own ‘inside sources’. Allegedly, the D7 Premium Lightweight platform will be replaced with the MLA Flex architecture used in the latest Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models. The MLA Flex is advertised as a versatile basis for various powertrains.
Both the Range Rover and the Range Rover
Sport – which are scheduled to go electric in a couple of years – may land with
a 100-kWh traction battery rated at 483 km of range, the rumor
claims. The Defender might ship with the same specs when it goes on sale in
2026.
According to Auto Express, all three
modifications including 90, 110 and 130 will be made available with the
electric powertrain. The platform switch should not alter the size or
appearance of the models too much. The design team allegedly believes that the
electric SUV will feel even better in off-road situations thanks to advanced
torque vectoring.
The technically related Land Rover
Discovery also produced in Slovakia is expected to go all-electric soon, too.
However, its next generation will have to be reconceptualized in order to
prevent it from cannibalizing the sales of the Defender 130 eight-seater and
the stretched Range Rover seven-seater. Speaking with the media this summer,
Thierry Bollore, JLR CEO at the time, promised to turn the Discovery into a
‘true family car’ for the most demanding customers.
