Land Rover planning for a family of Defenders - Report

Will include off-road centric and performance versions.

Land Rover is mulling the expansion of the Defender nameplate in the coming years to cater to a larger audience. One of the new members of the Defender family could be a performance oriented Defender SVR, as Land Rover's design chief, Gerry McGovern, teases.

Aiming squarely at the rugged Mercedes G63 AMG, the Defender SVR - if it happens - will be developed by JLR's Special Vehicle Operations and introduced in markets where powerful and luxurious rugged off-roaders are in good demand.

For off road purists who believe that the next Defender will stray from its roots, Land Rover may also introduce an off-road centric Defender SVX (name not confirmed) that could feature all the bells and whistles of a true off-roader. Another possible addition to the family is a Defender SVA, which focuses on luxury and equipment, similar to the Range Rover SVAutobiography.

Also Read: Range Rover Evoque SVAutobiography version planned

Reports suggest that the all new Defender will not be introduced until 2018. Technical details on the next Defender are scarce for now. Speculations are rife that the Defender will sit on an aluminum unibody chassis, and with the downsizing trend on the rise, Land Rover may equip the SUV with the Ingenium range of four cylinder engines as well as a powerful V6 motor.

Land Rover Defender Adventure Edition - Image Gallery (Unrelated)

[Source: Auto Express]