2023 Author: Charles Youmans | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-20 18:41
Land Rover has been criticized for making the latest Defender much more luxurious than it should be given its rustic roots and the fact that bringing it to market could reduce sales of other JLR models. The recently discovered 8-seat derivative, due in 2022, raises the same concerns. But that obviously doesn't stop the company from making the SUV even more sophisticated.
New Land Rover Defender 130
A new report released by Autocar claims that the MLA platform, which debuts at the end of the year with the next-generation Range Rover, will also be used in the Defender, which will hit the market in early 2025. According to rumors, this will be the flagship version. It is said to have a less luxurious interior compared to the current model so as not to conflict with the next generation Range Rover.
The MLA-based Defender is believed to be larger than the current three-door 90 and five-door 110 models. Moreover, it could form the basis for a future all-electric version, which will compete with the Mercedes EQG, which is due to appear in 2024. The three-row variation serves as a more luxurious alternative to the upcoming Defender 130, but it could impact sales for the next Discovery (photo: motor1.com).
If the Defender lineup gets a new top-end version, it is expected to cost just under £ 60,000 in the UK. This will make it about 10,000 more expensive than the current Defender 110. In the United States, the five-door version starts at $ 50,500, but you have to pay $ 114,600 for the V8 Bond Edition.
An expensive version of the SUV could be part of what Land Rover has called the Defender family, which already includes a powerful supercharged V8 model. There are rumors of an even hotter SVR car with a BMW engine and over 600 hp. In the meantime, a hydrogen-powered prototype is being tested.
Actual SUV
Autocar says Land Rover is planning another Defender variant for 2025 - an entry-level model based on the EMA platform adapted for electric vehicles. It can also be equipped with an extended range petrol engine. However, this idea has been shelved and the EMA architecture will only be used to replace the Evoque and Discovery Sport.