Specifications of the First Electric Defender Line Ready to Launch Next Year

Rendering of the electric Defender. (Photo: Autocar)

JAKARTA - The Defender family will soon welcome a new, most compact and revolutionary family member. JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) confirmed the rapid development of the "Defender Sport" as the first model in the Defender line that carries fully electric (EV) technology.

Despite its more compact size compared to the current Defender 90, Mark Cameron, Brand Director of Defender, said at Autocar, Tuesday, March 3, promising that this car will remain the leader in its class in terms of toughness attributes that are their main DNA.

The development process of this model is reported to be in the advanced stage, even the prototype has been caught on camera while testing on the streets of England. The Defender Sport will be the first product born since the Defender was separated into a standalone brand under JLR's "House of Brands" strategy. This step marks the company's ambition to transform the Defender from just one model line into a luxury lifestyle brand that has a wider product portfolio in the future.

Technically, this car will be built on JLR's EMA (Electric Modular Architecture) platform, which will also be used by the latest generation of Range Rover Evoque and Velar. The use of this special electric platform presents its own challenges for engineers, especially regarding the limitations of wheel travel and wheel articulation due to the placement of the battery under the floor. However, the design team is committed to not eliminating the substantial off-road capability that is a mandatory identity for every Defender unit.

One of the biggest challenges in designing the Defender EV is maintaining the iconic box silhouette but still aerodynamic. Vertical design and sharp glass angles are usually the main enemies of battery range efficiency. Mark Cameron emphasized that he did not want to just be "an ordinary SUV brand" at the expense of design for efficiency. Therefore, the Defender Sport is guaranteed to still carry a four-wheel drive (4WD) system through a dual motor configuration to maintain performance in various terrains.

Interestingly, in the midst of the onslaught of Chinese brands that have a very fast development cycle, JLR chose not to rush. They still maintain strict testing standards, including two winter test cycles and two extreme hot weather test cycles. Crucial parts such as electric drive units are also carefully considered to ensure that torque and driving characteristics remain in line with the standard Defender, which is known to be durable and capable of going anywhere.

In the future, the expansion of the Defender brand will not stop at this small electric model. JLR is also eyeing the huge potential in the United States market with the possibility of presenting a pickup variant, as well as meeting the needs of the European market which requires more compact cars for narrow city streets. Although electrification is the focus, JLR promises to continue offering a choice of gasoline, diesel, and hybrid engines as long as regulations allow, in order to provide the widest possible choice for their global consumers.