Defender Sport EV spotted testing at Nürburgring — SkimNews
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- Defender is developing its first fully electric SUV, a compact off-roader expected to debut by the end of 2026 and arrive in 2027, positioned below the standard entry-level Defender.
- JLR's EMA platform will debut under the Defender Sport EV and also underpin the upcoming Range Rover Velar EV, supporting 70–90 kWh battery packs, 300–320 miles of range, 800V fast charging, and hybrid powertrains.
- Spy photos from @Wilcoblok show the prototype testing at the Nürburgring in disguise, retaining Defender's signature boxy, rugged design in electric form.
- Mark Cameron, Defender's global managing director, told Autocar the electric SUV will feature the brand's "epic, built-to-last, go anywhere capability," with a dual-motor AWD powertrain and Terrain Response system.
- The Range Rover Electric went on sale earlier this week starting at £154,070 in the UK and about $140,000 in the US, positioning the smaller Defender EV as JLR's more accessible electric option.
- The interior will mirror the full-size Defender's layout but feature larger display screens and a new user interface.
Why it matters: Defender's first EV will sit below the standard Defender and well below the £154k Range Rover Electric, giving JLR its first relatively accessible electric off-roader on a new EMA platform also destined for the Velar EV. That the EMA platform now supports hybrids alongside EVs signals JLR hedged its bet on a pure-EV architecture after years of EV-only messaging.
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![Range Rover’s next EV is unlike anything the luxury brand has built before [Images]](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Range-Rover-GT-electric.jpeg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1400)