I'm in the UK and ordered a Defender X P400e 19th September 20 (one of the first MY21 orders). Was due to be manufactured mid February 21 for delivery mid March 21. I was advised a few days before production that they are now going to start all P400e variants with the MY22 spec but that the dealership has not been advised what the changes will be. The salesman believes that this change will push my build date back by around a month - so now mid March 21 production. What I find really frustrating is the total lack of information from JLR. If they really are planning to build this spec next month then given the component lead times and the challenges of the pandemic they have to have some idea! Don't they?

 

Its a great question. I dont have any details about my order that I placed at the beginning of this month, but I am guessing its just in a holding queue somewhere. I am anxiously hopeful that 2022 orders to the USA get the p400e engine option as that would be a game changer for me.

If you have a mid march production, when will your last day to make changes be? I gotta imagine that the build changes for 2022 will be out by March so that people who are in the same position as you have a little bit of time to adapt to any necessary changes they need/want to make.

 

Same for me the P400e was a real bonus. I had originally ordered the X P400 straight 6 in Mid August but had asked the sales team when the PHEV would be available and they didn't have any idea that it was about to be announced. As soon as I saw the spec change I asked to re-order. My original P400 build was due for a December production date but I figured that as the same P440e spec was already out in the RRS it would be a safe bet that an early 2022 production date would be possible. If the changes are significant then I don't think the production could possibly be mid March. I'm guessing they have changed the battery spec in some way. Hopefully new tech with faster charging and greater range!

To answer another question in this thread. The difference between the PHEV and MHEV in the defender is no third row seat option and a reduction in storage space behind the second row. 1075 ltr down to 972 ltr

 

will it bug you if the cargo area is raised like other LR's with the P400e to fit the battery pack? I've yet to find an interior pic of a Defender with the P400e fitted.

 

I am thinking the changes will be more in the cosmetic way, such as interior color combinations or possibly seat material (would love to see HSE get all leather).

I see in the UK they still offer a first edition for 2021 builds. Any idea why that is?

Also the PHEV is 200+ pounds heavier than MHEV.

 

I guess they still have a few first edition treadplates left! Joking aside It's only available as D250 MHEV so I wonder if this got delayed from the initial launch?

 

Quick update here, I pinged my dealer (Vancouver, BC) about the P400e rumors for the 2022 model year. He seemed pretty certain that the P400e won't be coming to north america for 2022, they haven't heard anything at all about it. He actually said it's more likely we'll get a V8 before we get a P400e defender. I guess only time will tell if he's right or not, I was excited for the P400e, so a little deflated by that news, fingers crossed he's wrong!

 

So weird to me. You can get it in the Caribbean or even Guatemala. You cant get it in Canada, USA, or Mexico. How does that make sense?

Didnt LR want to be 60% electric by 2025? Wouldn't a heavy PHEV lineup be the first step?

 

Can't argue with any of that, it makes no sense at all. It's also possible that JLR just isn't communicating anything with dealers yet and it is coming, but I suspect that's unlikely. That recent electrification announcement probably came without much warning internally, might take a year or two for it to actually start being implemented.

 

FWIW my dealer mentioned they heard rumors of the PHEV for the defender in the 2022 model (not sure if I had mentioned that here before or not). The PHEV is already available in the RR, so my fingers are still crossed for the 22 defender release.

Do you play any golf iceman? Ive always wanted to play Nicklaus North Golf Course up in Whistler. Once the border opened up I was hoping to take a trip up there in the new defender with the family. Both my defender order, and the border opening, are in a hold it seems.

Looks like the border is open now. You just need to quarantine for two weeks once arriving, regardless of whether you have been vaccinated or not.