A few months ago, Land Rover has introduced the brand-new 2020 Defender series (depicted in the gallery and on the video here). Now, the company says it would like to launch a similarly styled crossover SUV, which would be smaller and more affordable.
The newcomer will likely inherit its technical base from the latest Defender, but still be marketed as a fully standalone model. One theory suggests it might get released as the ‘Land Rover 80’ to highlight its standing below the Defender in the lineup (the cheapest three-door Def version is called the 90). That said, the company points out that this alleged 80 will have five doors instead of three.
The entry-level crossover will ship with a range of four-cylinder engines to choose from, as well as a hybrid powertrain based on a gasoline three-cylinder. 4WD will be optional in all trims to keep the costs down: whereas the current Defender 90 First Edition will set you back at least U.S. $65,000, the basic Land Rover 80 will be almost twice as cheap.
As for the launch timeframe, the company provides 2021 as an early estimation.