The Plugged-In Defender
Electrification is well underway at Land Rover, with more battery-electric test mules continuing to emerge. One of the latest sightings is this camouflaged SUV, described as the new all-electric Defender. The charging port on the left rear quarter panel is one clue, while UK vehicle records via MotorScan list the prototype as electric.
The spy shots were shared by Richard Pierce in the Facebook group LAND ROVER DEFENDER. Pierce said he saw what he believes is the electric Defender at Eastnor Castle in England and suggested that the vehicle was being tested off-road. It is under heavy camouflage, so details are difficult to make out, though such an outing suggests development is ongoing – important as EVs such as the battery-electric Ram 1500 have been discontinued amid shifting market demand.
Ready for the Mud
A walkaround shows blacked-out wheels and what appear to be roof-rack crossbars, fitting its apparent use at an off-road test venue. Such capability is a core characteristic of the Defender. In addition to the charging port, the apparent lack of a prominent traditional grille is also consistent with an all-electric vehicle.
However, it is worth noting that the full-size electric Defender has reportedly been pushed back into the early 2030s. More imminent is a smaller Defender model, possibly called the Defender Sport. It is expected to follow the Range Rover Electric and Range Rover Sport Electric, which JLR says will launch later this year.
As such, this recent sighting could instead be a development mule related to the smaller Defender. Because that model is expected to ride on the Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA), it was initially believed to be all-electric. However, JLR has since modified the platform to support a full-hybrid setup, meaning the off-roader could eventually be offered with a gasoline engine as well.
The Future Is Here
The post did not provide further details, so it’s still unclear whether this is a full-size Defender EV test bed or a mule connected to the smaller Defender.
What is more notable, however, is that JLR’s upcoming EVs are now appearing in the metal after repeated delays. In addition to the Range Rover Electric and Range Rover Sport Electric, Range Rover has unveiled a fifth model, the Range Rover GT, which will run on electricity only. Meanwhile, the chapter of models such as the E-Type and F-Type is long gone, and Jaguar has now named its electric future: the Type 01, a luxury four-door GT expected to produce about 1,000 horsepower.
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