This might sound a bit far-fetched, but hear me out. The new Defender Sport has been spotted with various number plates, such as VE74 HBZ, VE74 HCA and VE74 HCL, all following that same format, with the model listed as 'unknown'. Looking up other number plates with that same format, I've made some observations. See below:
VE74 HBZ - Black, electric
VE74 HCA - Black, electric
VE74 HCC - Silver, electric
VE74 HCD - White, petrol
VE74 HCF - White, electric
VE74 HCG - White, petrol
VE74 HCH - White, petrol
VE74 HCJ - Black, Hybrid / Electric / (clean)
VE74 HCK - Green, petrol
VE74 HCL - Black, electric
VE74 HCN - Black, electric
VE74 HCU - Black, Hybrid / Electric / (clean)
VE74 HCV - Black, Hybrid / Electric / (clean)
VE74 HCX - Green, Hybrid / Electric / (clean)
VE74 HCZ - Black, electric
Some petrol, some electric, and some 'hybrid' (it's officially listed with those three categories so I can't be sure), all listed as Landrover Unknown. I did notice that the tax expires on the 1st of January for all the petrol/hybrid cars, while it expires on the 1st of March for all the electric ones, so they may be prototypes of different models. Who knows.

 

Interesting. Where are you located?

 

Not surprising, especially since every automaker is backtracking on EVs. Nobody wants them. The market dictates what automakers produce.

Porsche recently announced that the next generation 718 Boxster/Cayman, which were supposed to be EV-only, will now have an ICE option available.

The EMA platform that's likely going to underpin the Defender Sport is a heavily revised PTA (itself derived from the old Ford-derived D8 platform) that is designed for EVs. However, JLR themselves said that EMA was originally developed with MHEV, PHEV, & EV in mind before switching it to EV-only a few years ago. Should be an easy change to revert back to MHEV & PHEV options since it was supposed to be like that from the beginning.

 

Anyone knows anything about plans for a plug in hybrid in the US? They have them in Europe but no such Defenders here yet.

 

I would have to dispute the “nobody wants them” claim. EV’s were rolling towards a robust and stable market, worldwide. Europe, China and many other countries and regions were embracing EV’s and some still are. But the current push in the U.S. to weaken the market and demand by eliminating tax breaks, charging infrastructure, and support for the industry has put the brakes on the industry, both literally and figuratively. We are under the thumb of the oil giants and the drill, baby, drill consciousness. While the rest of the world has been doing their part in reducing greenhouse gases, building incredibly fast, efficient bullet trains, charging systems and infrastructure, we are moving quickly backwards here. Do I love internal combustion engines? Yes. Do I love stronger and more frequent catastrophic weather events? Absolutely not. There needs to be tipping point in our sensibilities, ignoring science never works out well for humans as a whole.

 

I agree with Chuck. If you put your global hat on EV's have heavy investment and traction. They are easy to automate the production of with limited worker contact. Yes the infrastructure is still being built, but in countries around the world they are gaining in popularity and profitability.
We won't be along for that ride in the near future, but don't bet they are going away, or even slowing on a global scale.

 

I’m in Australia but anybody can use public UK numberplate lookup tools

 

Look, I advocate that both petrol and electric have a place in our world. They both have their own benefits, but neither are particularly good for the environment. Just take the bus if you want to be sustainable!
I have heard a theory that the big EV push is by energy providers so they can use your car’s battery pack at peak demand times in the grid so they can keep up with demand and also use it to collect data about your energy usage in general (through the current/voltage readings of the charger itself) but I think that’s a bit far fetched.

 

Along that line of thinking, a bigger concern is looking toward the future and increased energy costs. With the advancements and growth in AI, quantum computing, mining for bitcoin and crypto, there is a major push in building these data/power centers which demand massive amounts of power to operate. And the adjacent infrastructure to support them. And who will pay for all this through increased monthly bills? Usually the end user.

 

Looks like the forum lane keep assist and ACC have swerved us right into a geopolitical thread.

I want to hear more about the petrol Defender sport, as I have less than zero interest in a EV since it cannot fulfill my use cases that I require of vehicles and therefore hold extremely passionate hatred of anyone purporting to be smarter and better informed insisting that I not only help subsidize their personal vehicle choice - but mandate that I conform to their preferences by outright banning mine.


So please , more info on this nice Defender Sport that sounds like it might have a chance.