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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!