[wheelguy]

*Image for representative purpose only, this is not the actual sketch

Land Rover has been keenly looking at a compact SUV to sit under the Discovery Sport and new reports that have come out hint that the compact SUV could see the light of day as early as 2021.

Word is that the compact SUV will be based on a new low-cost platform that has been developed by Tata. At this stage, it is all but speculation on what this low-cost platform could be. Is it the Harrier's underpinnings, which in itself is a derivative of the Discovery Sport's platform? We can't rule it out, simply because, during our first outing with the Harrier, the engineers at Tata had told us that the platform is ready to accommodate and implement a small battery-pack, as a plug-in hybrid variant of Harrier/Gravitas was also under consideration when the car was conceived.

In parallel, Land Rover has been developing a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 200PS 1.5l Ingenium petrol engine and a 109PS electric rear-axle motor mated to an 11.3kWH lithium-ion battery pack. The first iteration of this powertrain will be seen in the Evoque 1.5 Hybrid due in 2020. The same powertrain in the same or a lower state of tune could provide the motivation for the upcoming compact SUV from Land Rover.

The big news is that this sub-Discovery Sport SUV is likely to sit within the Defender vertical for Land Rover. That alone could make it a more convincing alternative to the likes of the Volvo XC40 and the BMW X1 that it will rival. Expected to measure between 4.1-4.3m in length, the model will have a boxy silhouette like its big daddy, and the cabin, too, will draw inspiration from it. The compact SUV is internally codenamed L860 and is likely to don the name-tag, Defender Sport.

As I mentioned earlier, it is all but speculation at this stage on what platform it will be based on. J-LR is finalizing work on its new Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) that accommodates all-electric drives, plug-in hybrids and mild-hybrids. However, the architecture is primarily built keeping in mind the next generation XJ, the new Range Rover line and the future premium electric models that will be made under the Jaguar marque. Therefore, it may not be logical choice for the inexpensive compact luxury offering that Land Rover is targeting.

Source: Overdrive

Note: Request moderators to move the thread to relevant forum if this is not one.

[romeomidhun]

Source: https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-new...ki-jimny-77271

As per this report, this baby Defender which will use a Tata platform will compete against Suzuki Jimny. Call that a real fight.

[Nithesh_M]

So basically something like the Mitsubishi Pajero Pinin?

[shankar.balan]

The sketch basically looks exactly like the new Defender 90 2 Door version.

[Sebring]

Now you're talking! I've been shouting from roof tops that Land Rover needs an entry model that's compact and affordable. They need something 'massy' in order to milk the brand. MG has used its branding to the hilt, and LR needs to do the same. Same theory applies to Mahindra's Ssangyong acquisition.

[romeomidhun]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

The sketch basically looks exactly like the new Defender 90 2 Door version.

Original article gives this as the image caption:

"Sketch of the 2020 Land Rover Defender shown for representation only".

[ashutoshb]

It might the Omega Arc itself.

Tata has already heavily customised it (more steel, less aluminium) to meet a lower price point.

Since it is compatible for all wheel drive and battery packs, it is a possibility.

It can be Alfa Arc too. It can accommodate a vehicle till 4.3 metres. The current SWB Defender is 4.6 metres.

[gutsy]

Very interesting. Just connecting the dots from an old article:

https://www.just-auto.com/news/exclu..._id180127.aspx

sources close to JLR have pointed to a new steel-based platform called 'D10'. This will be cheaper to manufacture than the aluminium platforms currently employed by the Range Rover and Land Rover Discovery, enabling the firm to sell the car at a comparatively low price.

Now the speculation that Land Rover's new affordable SUV will based on the Tata Harrier platform.

[BZ25]

Just curious, but isn't JLR planning to phase out the old, Ford-derived D8 platform? This is a somewhat taking a step back, considering they are planning to base all future offerings from sedans to SUVs on the modular MLA architecture, which also be applied to the Evoque and Discovery Sport when they will be updated.

[TangoSierra]

It will be very interesting to see how the product spans out.

This is a somewhat taking a step back, considering they are planning to base all future offerings from sedans to SUVs on the modular MLA architecture

If taking a step back helps JLR to come with a product that will be very competitive in terms of pricing, help them to penetrate deep into the markets and fight tooth and nail, then why not.



This might be the need of the hour for JLR to fight the losses they have been accumulating over the years - and finally a JLR we can easily afford.

[ram87pune]

Originally Posted by ashutoshb

It might the Omega Arc itself.

It can be Alfa Arc too. It can accommodate a vehicle till 4.3 metres. The current SWB Defender is 4.6 metres.

Tata cannot use the Alfa platform since it cannot accommodate bigger wheels which are one of the key requirements in an SUV. This was also one of the reason due to which the Blackbird SUV on Alfa platform was shelved.

So Omega Arc looks like the most possible candidate.

[octane_100]

It would be a good move overall for Tata. Land Rover badge is highly aspirational and as long as they can mask the Tata underpinnings, no reason why they can't sell. IMO, a good bet for emerging markets at least which drive volumes and bottom line to an extent.

[libranof1987]

Speaks quite a bit to the growing focus on this segment (the Ford EcoSport is now sold in the US as well) that a news this morning suggest Jeep is building a sub-4m SUV too.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/inter...ml#post4711578 (Small 4-meter Jeep coming up to rival the Suzuki Jimny)

In India, weird taxation rules have created a market for sub-4m vehicles but world over, I wonder what value a vehicle such as this provides (restricting the length).

[Reinhard]

Nice PR idea to proclaim that a Tata platform will be used for a LandRover car. Considering that the LR D8 platform was the donor for the OmegaArc, logically they should simply be saying its a smaller version of the LandRover platform. But nice ploy.

Gives Tata brand more visibility & also attempts to emphasize on the OmegaArc's credentials by claiming that the legendary LandRover also trusts this platform for their products.