JLR’s baby Defender isn’t even out yet, but it’s already gone through some big changes. Originally planned as an EV, the compact SUV will now also be available in hybrid form, JLR says. The company confirmed this week that the new EMA electric platform is being reworked to support hybrid powertrains as well.

That’s a notable shift from the original plan and a clear acknowledgement that the transition to EVs isn’t happening as quickly as many expected, particularly in the US, which is JLR’s biggest market.

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For enthusiasts, the most immediate impact concerns the compact Defender that we’ve already been spied testing multiple times. But JLR says the mini Defender won’t be the first model built on the EMA platform. That honor goes to a vehicle “from the Range Rover brand” that we suspect is the new Velar, which we’ve also spotted in prototype form. The next Evoque will also use the EMA architecture.

JLR chiefs are adamant that the baby Defender will be true to the name, no matter what powers it, so you can forget about any front-wheel drive options. But Defender boss Mark Cameron admitted to Autocar that packaging an underfloor battery creates compromises in terms of wheel articulation. He also noted that Defender’s upright shape and bluff rear end aren’t exactly ideal when you’re chasing maximum electric range.

Hybrid, But No Plug

The new hybrid powertrain will be a traditional full hybrid, not a mild- or plug-in hybrid, but JLR didn’t divulge any more about the technical setup. It did, though, reveal that while the now-separate Range Rover, Defender, and Discovery brands will offer mild-hybrid, hybrid, plug-in-hybrid, and fully-electric options across their various model lines. The reinvented Jaguar brand is sticking steadfast to EVs. Jag’s Type 01 sedan, the four-door production version of the controversial 2024 Type 00 coupe concept, debuts later this year.

The US is the focus of JLR’s sales drive, the company says, and this week it reminded us that it recently signed a deal with Stellantis to explore products and technologies for the US market, with Defender singled out as the growth brand.

The company isn’t saying exactly what those products might be, but America’s appetite for trucks is hardly a secret. With Defender becoming a standalone brand and JLR openly targeting major US expansion, it’s not difficult to imagine an American-built Defender pickup – or maybe a jumbo-sized rugged SUV – sitting somewhere on the drawing board.

Given the Stellantis tie-up, there’s a real chance this model could ride on an existing Stellantis platform rather than JLR architecture.

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The facelifted Range Rover Sport has been spotted pounding around the Nürburgring, and while Land Rover is still keeping the details under wraps, the location itself tells us plenty.

Automakers don’t usually send prototypes to Germany’s most demanding racetrack just for sightseeing. When development programs reach the point where engineers are fine-tuning ride, handling, braking, and overall refinement, the Nürburgring often becomes the final proving ground before a model is signed off for production.

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That’s true for JLR, which has maintained a testing HQ at the famous circuit for nearly a quarter of a century. The company has used the track and the challenging public roads surrounding it to develop everything from Range Rovers and Defenders to high-performance Jaguar models.

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The latest prototype spied at the Ring is the facelifted Range Rover Sport, which is expected to arrive as a mid-cycle refresh for the current third-generation model later in 2026 as a MY27 SUV. Although camouflage still conceals the finer details, it looks like the Sport is getting revised front and rear fascias, updated LED lighting elements, and a couple of other small tweaks to update the design that debuted in 2022.

The biggest changes, though, might be hiding under that skin. An upgraded infotainment system, faster software, and additional driver assistance features are all likely candidates. JLR has been steadily modernizing its technology across the Range Rover lineup, and the Sport should benefit from the latest developments.

Sport Goes Electric, But ICE Options Live On

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Powertrain changes are expected to be modest, at least on the combustion side of things. Existing six-cylinder, V8, and plug-in hybrid options should carry over with efficiency improvements and emissions tweaks. The bigger story remains the fully electric Range Rover Sport that’s already been spotted testing separately and is expected to share much of its technology with the upcoming 542 hp (550 PS / 405 kW) Range Rover EV.

That model could play a significant role in the Sport’s future as the world moves toward electrification, even if demand isn’t growing as rapidly as some brands once predicted in markets like the US, which is where JLR still makes most of its money.

Other EVs on the way from the company within the next 12 months include the first electric Velar and baby Defender Sport, plus of course Jaguar’s Type 01 sedan, the production version of 2024’s controversial Type 00 concept. And if the Jag generates as much conversation as we’d expect when it debuts this fall, it might be hard for the nipped and tucked Range Rovers to get as much attention, even if they’ll go on to sell in much bigger quantities.

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Few vehicles wear the word flagship as comfortably as a long-wheelbase Range Rover. That, apparently, was not enough for JLR, which has now introduced the Ultra. Positioned as the most technologically advanced and finely finished interpretation of the flagship SUV to date, the SV Ultra brings world-first audio engineering to the cabin, along with exterior and interior treatments reserved for this version alone.

The headline act is the SV Electrostatic Sound system, which aims to recast the cabin as a concert hall with every occupant placed centre stage. It is the most sophisticated audio setup ever fitted to a Range Rover, available as an option on every SV trim, the new Ultra included.

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There are 21 lightweight thin-film transducers in total, woven into the headrests, seatbacks, and headlining. Each membrane measures one millimetre thick, responds up to 1,000 times faster than a conventional speaker, and draws 90 percent less power than a traditional setup.

To make sure passengers feel the music as well as hear it, the system pairs with the Body and Soul Seats (BASS) and a Sensory Haptic Floor. Transducers sit inside the seats and beneath the footwell mats, generating AI-tuned pulsations. Beyond entertainment, these can be used for six wellness modes, ranging from “Calm” to “Invigorating”.

Understated Luxury

The SV Ultra is, predictably, built on the long-wheelbase four-seater Range Rover. The body wears an exclusive Titan Silver finish, mixed with aluminium flakes and a process intended to chase a liquid-metal effect.

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The new color is combined with Silver Chrome inserts on the front end, and Satin Platinum Atlas accents on the grille, side gills, and tailgate garnish. Finally, the SUV rides on 23-inch alloy wheels with a bi-tone finish matching the exterior.

Inside, the SV Ultra goes leather-free, trimmed instead in Orchid White and Cinder Grey Ultrafabrics. The seats carry a laser-crafted mosaic pattern, with fine perforations that conceal the audio hardware buried within.

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Another cool touch is the new rattan palm veneer. Utilizing a patented process that preserves its natural open-pore texture, the veneer is finished with an Orchid White tint and extends from the dashboard to the electrically-deployable club tables in the rear.

Powertrain Options

The SV Ultra offers a choice between traditional V8 power and electrified efficiency. The P540 powertrain utilizes the BMW-sourced twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 producing 533 hp (397 kW / 540 PS).

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The P550e plug-in hybrid delivers a combined 542 hp (405 kW / 550 PS) and offers an EV-only range of 74 miles (119 km) on the WLTP cycle. Finally, a fully-electric Range Rover SV Ultra is confirmed to follow later this year.

Pricing and Availability

The 2027 Range Rover SV Ultra is on sale in selected markets, though access varies. In the UK, it is invitation-only. In Australia, the SUV starts at AU$472,400 (US$337,000) plus on-road costs, making it one of the most expensive Range Rovers ever offered.