The 2019 Land Rover Defender will reportedly be available with an all-electric powertrain when it arrives in late 2018. The next-generation off-road SUV's launch is scheduled to happen alongside the iconic nameplate's 70th-anniversary celebrations.
Sources close to Jaguar Land Rover told Motoring Australia that aside from the traditional combustion engines, the 2019 Defender will also be offered with electrified powertrains. At least one option will have an electric motor that is powered by a highly capable battery pack.
This recent revelation appears to be consistent with Jaguar Land Rover's goal of having electric and hybrid models for all its vehicles by 2020.
In line with this vision, the British automaker recently unveiled the Range Rover Sport Plug-In Hybrid while a pure-electric Jaguar I-Pace is expected to arrive next year. The latter could potentially preview the upcoming Defender's all-electric powertrain.
When it comes to aesthetics, Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern revealed that the 2019 Defender will have a "polarizing" design. The next-generation off-road SUV will still pay tribute to the nameplate's vast history but it will also come with significant changes in order to attract new customers.
While hard-core Defender fans might not appreciate the major shift in design language, McGovern said that the design process will be organic and the 2019 Defender won't simply be a version of the automaker's other vehicles such as the Discovery.
Moreover, the Land Rover executive said that the all-new Defender will cater to the needs of future buyers. It will be "modern, fully automated, highly technical and futuristic."
In terms of technical specifications, Autocar revealed that the 2019 Defender, currently codenamed L663, will be based on Jaguar Land Rover's D7u aluminum architecture which is also used by the Range Rover Sport and Discovery models. There will be two wheelbases which will be available with either a hard-top or soft-top body style. The platform will also allow the automaker to release different models and trims.
Following its launch by the end of 2018, the all-new Land Rover Defender is expected to go on sale sometime in 2019.
