Land Rover plotting larger Defender flagship

The forthcoming long-wheelbase 2022 Land Rover Defender 130 will be joined by an even larger and more luxurious SUV that will share more in common with the next-generation full-size Range Rover.

According to Autocar, sources from Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) suggest the car-maker's bosses are keen to exploit the maximum potential from the Defender off-roader in a bid to create another high-profit business in a similar vein to the hugely successful Range Rover.

If green-lit for production, the new flagship Defender could land in dealerships globally by 2025, according to the British car mag, with the XXL SUV primed to transform JLR's fortunes as the arrival of the new model will see the car-maker possess six out of nine models that will have "high-profit margins".

If you're wondering what that means, the insider said JLR considers any vehicle with more than a 10 per cent margin as "high-profit".

With the extra cash generated from its highest earners, execs will reinvest the extra profit into new models, as well as paying off existing debts.

Full details of the new Defender XXL have not been leaked, but it's believed it will be built on the car-maker's latest MLA platform – the same advanced architecture the all-new Range Rover will sit on when it makes its debut before the end of 2021.

The upcoming Range Rover Sport, Velar and Discovery 6 will also be based on the MLA.

The advantage of the versatile MLA underpinnings is it allows JLR to offer a broad range of powertrains including mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric.

It also has in-built hardware within the architecture to maximise off-road performance.

It's thought top of JLR's list for its new MLA-based Defender XXL will be readying a full pure-electric version to battle it out with the advanced Mercedes-Benz EQG that goes on sale in 2024.

Keeping its link with the Defender (both old and new), despite being aimed at the luxury end of the market, the XXL version will shun the usual leather and lacquered wood for more outdoorsy materials, like metallic trims and pre-weathered finishes.

According to Autocar, JLR's hunger for high profit margins has meant plans to launch a smaller, more affordable version of the Defender based on the equally new EMA (Electric Modular Architecture) platform have been put on ice.

Up next is the arrival of the Defender 130 with a generous 5.1-metre length that will allow an eight-seater version to satisfy demand in both the US and China.

There are persistent rumours that the Defender 130 will also spin off a Ford Ranger-rivalling pick-up truck.

Other models in the pipeline include both the Range Rover Evoque and the Land Rover Discovery Sport that will both be based on the smaller EMA platform.

Fresh details on the EMA include the fact that it will be a dedicated battery-electric 'skateboard' architecture but, differing from other EV platforms, it will also be able to accommodate a small petrol engine for use as a range-extender.

New tech introduced with the EMA includes a new electrical and software architecture that allows for Level 2 autonomous driving and up to Level 4 in geofenced locations, like highways. Car-to-car communication, car-to-street infrastructure and automatic payment capability will also be offered.

It's thought the new third-generation Range Evoque will be introduced in 2025.

Picture credit: Unofficial renderings of Defender 130 by Russian auto website Kolesa.ru