Defender Down: Insurmountable Engineering Hurdles Stall Land Rover’s EV Ambitions

Why the Land Rover Defender Won’t Go Fully Electric (Yet)

The internal combustion engine has had a longer lifespan than many of us expected. Remember when Jeremy Clarkson declared the Aston Martin V12 Vantage was the end of the road for big gas guzzlers back in 2009? Yet, here we are, over 15 years later, and you can still buy a gas guzzler if you want. The Land Rover Defender is a prime example, with its current platform not designed to accommodate a fully battery-powered setup.

A Conversation with JLR’s Chief Commercial Officer

In an interview with Autocar, JLR’s Chief Commercial Officer Lennard Hoornik explained that electrifying the current ‘L663’ Defender would be “really, really hard.” The reason is that the current platform, D7x, is brilliant at what it does, but finding extra space for batteries within the chassis is a significant challenge, given the axle packaging and capability requirements.

A Plug-in Hybrid Option Already Available

While the Defender won’t go fully electric in its current form, there is a plug-in hybrid four-cylinder option available. However, this isn’t enough to satisfy the demand for a fully electric Defender, at least not yet.

A Radical New Direction for JLR

JLR is heading in a radical new direction, with electrification being the name of the game. The company has committed to making an electric production model for each of its new brands, including Range Rover, Defender, Discovery, and Jaguar. However, the current Defender platform simply wasn’t designed to accommodate a fully battery-powered setup.

A Future Electric Defender in the Works

While the current Defender won’t go electric, JLR has confirmed that a future electric Defender is in the works. The company is exploring alternative solutions to make the transition to electric powertrains possible.

A Range of Powertrains Available

The Defender currently offers a range of powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid four-cylinder, a 5.0-liter supercharged V8, and even a BMW-sourced twin-turbo V8 in the Defender Octa. This is great news for those who love internal combustion engines.

A Comparison to Other Luxury SUVs

While the Defender won’t go electric, other luxury SUVs have already made the transition. The Mercedes G-Class, for example, has an electric option, and the Range Rover EV is set to arrive in 2025. However, the Defender’s endearing trait of being a gas guzzler is something that sets it apart from its competitors.

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