Latest news with #DefenderSport
Scottish Sun
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Iconic SUV loved by Brits set to return to the UK ‘by the end of the decade' after nearly 10 years away
Coupe-styled crossover will be available as a plug-in hybrid and then, later, an EV WELCOME BACK Iconic SUV loved by Brits set to return to the UK 'by the end of the decade' after nearly 10 years away AN ICONIC nameplate is set to return to the UK, having been discontinued some 10 years ago. The Freelander model - which was built by Land Rover from 1997 to 2015 - is to return as a standalone brand as part of a new family of Chinese-made models arriving in the UK. 3 The iconic Freelander is set to make a return to the UK, some 10 years after it was discontinued Credit: Getty 3 The original model was wildly popular and became the best-selling four-wheel drive model in Europe at the time of its initial run Credit: Getty 3 It's now returning before the end of the decade as a hybrid, pure electric and range-extender Credit: Getty According to Autocar, the revived Freelander will arrive on these shores 'before the end of the decade' as a stylish crossover designed by JLR's chief creative officer, Gerry McGovern. Jaguar Land Rover, who have partnered with its long-term Chinese manufacturing partner, Chery, will develop the Freelander models using Chery's electrified platforms - with production of the first model beginning in late 2026 in China. Global exports are said to follow sometime after this date - although exactly when has yet to be confirmed. To be initially available as a plug-in hybrid - which will include a 143bhp 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine along with three electric motors - the Freelander also has electric and range-extender versions planned - with the Autocar added that the plug-in hybrid will offer a combined output of 443bhp; good for a 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds. Stylistically, it will blend performance coupe looks with off-road ability and will aim to "stand out in an ever more crowded SUV market', while the cabin will include tactile dials for controls, alongside a large screen. Overall, the design is set to target a younger audience, distinct from JLR's upcoming Defender Sport. Indeed, Freelander will be positioned as independent from both Chery's existing portfolio and JLR's luxury brands, such as Defender, Discovery, Jaguar, and Range Rover. Naturally, electric power will play a significant role, with a claimed range of 93 miles for the plug-in hybrid. Range-extender tech, said to be popular in China, will be included, and the EV Freelander is expected to feature greater range and power. Jaguar boss doubles down & DEFENDS new 'woke Tesla' pink EV in controversial rebrand While production costs will be kept low, the Freelander will be priced higher than Chery's equivalent models - although no rough estimate has been made for its UK pricing at this stage. However, Freelander models will be sold through Chery-run dealerships, and not under JLR's luxury-focused strategy. It's thought that the return of the Freelander will resonate with UK buyers familiar with the original, highly adored SUV. The first-generation Freelander sold some 540,000 units in its original run, making it the best-selling four-wheel drive model in Europe at the time. But sales declined to around a tenth of that by 2014 and the model was axed a year later, with the model's ethos largely absorbed by the still-popular Range Rover Evoque, which was introduced in 2011.
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Iconic SUV loved by Brits set to return to the UK ‘by the end of the decade' after nearly 10 years away
AN ICONIC nameplate is set to return to the UK, having been discontinued some 10 years ago. The Freelander model - which was built by Land Rover from 1997 to 2015 - is to return as a standalone brand as part of a new family of Chinese-made models arriving in the UK. 3 The iconic Freelander is set to make a return to the UK, some 10 years after it was discontinued Credit: Getty 3 The original model was wildly popular and became the best-selling four-wheel drive model in Europe at the time of its initial run Credit: Getty 3 It's now returning before the end of the decade as a hybrid, pure electric and range-extender Credit: Getty According to Jaguar Land Rover, who have partnered with its long-term Chinese manufacturing partner, Chery, will develop the Freelander models using Chery's electrified platforms - with production of the first model beginning in late 2026 in China. Global exports are said to follow sometime after this date - although exactly when has yet to be confirmed. To be initially available as a plug-in hybrid - which will include a 143bhp 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine along with three electric motors - the Freelander also has electric and range-extender versions planned - with the Read more Motors News Autocar added that the plug-in hybrid will offer a combined output of 443bhp; good for a 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds. Stylistically, it will blend performance coupe looks with off-road ability and will aim to "stand out in an ever more crowded SUV market', while the cabin will include tactile dials for controls, alongside a large screen. Overall, the design is set to target a younger audience, distinct from JLR's upcoming Defender Sport. Indeed, Freelander will be positioned as independent from both Chery's existing portfolio and JLR's luxury brands, such as Defender, Discovery, Jaguar, and Range Rover. Most read in Motors Naturally, electric power will play a significant role, with a claimed range of 93 miles for the plug-in hybrid. Range-extender tech, said to be popular in China, will be included, and the EV Freelander is expected to feature greater range and power. Jaguar boss doubles down & DEFENDS new 'woke Tesla' pink EV in controversial rebrand While production costs will be kept low, the Freelander will be priced higher than Chery's equivalent models - although no rough estimate has been made for its UK pricing at this stage. However, Freelander models will be sold through Chery-run dealerships, and not under JLR's luxury-focused strategy. It's thought that the return of the Freelander will resonate with UK buyers familiar with the original, highly adored SUV. The first-generation Freelander sold some 540,000 units in its original run, making it the best-selling four-wheel drive model in Europe at the time. But sales declined to around a tenth of that by 2014 and the model was axed a year later, with the model's ethos largely absorbed by the still-popular Range Rover Evoque, which was introduced in 2011.
The Citizen
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
This could be what Land Rover's diminutive Defender looks like
Land Rover looks set to leverage the Defender moniker with its foray into the world of electrification. A reported diminutive Defender is in the works as a new electric SUV which has now been spotted under heavy camouflage during recent testing. This all-new model—possibly dubbed the Defender Sport—is shaping up to be the most compact off-roader in the Land Rover stable, and perhaps the most city-friendly Defender ever built too. This is how the electric Defender might look Though official details remain under wraps, spy shots and clever renderings have helped us piece together a rough idea of what this baby brute might look like. Styled by Nikita Chuyko for Kolesa, the speculative render shows a familiar boxy silhouette, reminiscent of the full-fat Defender, albeit scaled down and smoothed out. Related: Road test figures: BMW M3 Touring In the renders supplied by the Defender Sport retains the hallmark round headlights but there is no traditional grille to speak of—just a set of narrow slits in place of air intakes, echoing its combustion-powered sibling. Chunky bumpers, squared-off wheel arches and flared fenders add to the rugged visual DNA, while blacked-out pillars (save for a colour-coded C-pillar) introduce a more youthful, urban tone. The rear is more interesting and draws some inspiration from models like the Hyundai Santa Fe. This prototype has surprisingly low taillights which may not be replicated into the final production model. Beneath all of this boxy bodywork, the upcoming EV will reportedly ride on Jaguar Land Rover's new Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA) platform, which is designed to accommodate 800-volt tech and ultra-rapid 350 kW charging. As expected, the mini Defender should come standard with all-wheel drive with the potential for dual-motor setups to help it maintain its off-road credibility. Other competitors in the electric SUV market This will likely go up against Mercedes-Benz's forthcoming 'Little G' electric G-Class, which is also due to arrive later this decade. Both models aim to bring iconic off-road names into a more compact, electric future. Pricing for the baby Defender is still TBC, but expect it to sit well below the standard Defender 90 (from approximately R1.5 million locally). Since this is all under wraps, there is no confirmation that it will be coming to the local market – time will tell… Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles with Car Magazine! The post This Could Be What Land Rover's Diminutive Defender Looks Like appeared first on Car Magazine.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Will Land Rover's New Boxy 'Baby' Electric SUV Be a True Defender?
Land Rover is working on a "baby" that is due in 2027, which has been spotted testing in camouflage. The smaller Defender model will be sold exclusively as an EV, riding on the EMA platform that will also underpin the next and Evoque. The spy photos show an appropriately boxy body, with narrow rectangular headlights and low-mounted taillights. For years there have been rumors that Land Rover is preparing to expand the Defender family with a smaller off-road SUV, which has been called the "baby" Defender. While the little SUV has yet to materialize—missing previously expected due dates earlier this decade—Land Rover confirmed in 2023 that it plans to launch an electric "baby" Defender model in 2027. Now our spy photographer has caught a prototype version of the smaller Defender, which could be called Defender Sport, while testing, showing off its near-production-ready body. The photos show an incredibly boxy body, with a nearly perfectly vertical rear end. Up front, the headlights, which sit flush with the bodywork, are narrow and rectangular and appear to abut a thin rectangular grille. There are fairly pronounced wheel arches and a small roof spoiler, while the taillights appear to be mounted very low, in a similar vein to the taillights on the Mercedes-Benz G-class. The "baby" Defender is expected to be based on the upcoming EMA platform, which means the SUV will be exclusively sold with electric powertrains. The EMA, for Electric Modular Architecture, setup will also underpin the electric next-generation models for both the Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque, with the former due in 2026. An EMA-based Discovery Sport and Discovery are also in the pipeline. Past rumors have suggested the "baby" Defender could measure around 180 inches long, roughly as long as the two-door Defender 90 but nearly 20 inches shy of the four-door Defender 110. It's still unclear what Land Rover plans to name this model, with one possibility being "Defender 80," following the wheelbase-based naming scheme already used for the brand's Defender family. Land Rover could also use something like "Defender Sport." The "baby" Defender will likely end up competing against the "baby" G-class, which Mercedes confirmed earlier this year and should be hitting the market around the same time. More details should emerge over the next couple of years as Land Rover develops the smaller Defender. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
