On all Defender publication (including the sponsorship of the Lions VS Wallabies match; go wallabies) the Defender script it now more tall and less wide. See comparison on website.
2024:

Now:

I think it looks more like the older Defender’s bonnet logo. Thoughts? Why would they do this?

 

Think of subtle LCI of its branding. it happens more often than we notice. Just like Porsche/Ferrari/Lamborghini logo updates - very subtle, almost unnoticeable but by updating, keeping up with trend and newer generations of car buyers.

From looking at, they want to shift to less 'tough' and more 'elegant' brand.

 

Definitely. I was flicking through the original reveal from 2019 and it honestly shocked me at how much the brand has changed. This was the very first they showed, as the reveal.

 

Nice video, however, the 48.0196° N 66.9237° E spot they showed at 0:25 doesn't look very similar to how it looks in reality

https://maps.app.goo.gl/8xMXbpVwuPEkpC2R7

 

The "Range Rover" font style and spacing looks a lot closer the early Range Rover's lettering as well.

 

Yes. Also notice how they didn't change the "Discovery" font? What could that mean...

 

I'm willing to bet it isn't a change and just an issue with the website. All other marketing material on the media site is the same as its been. You'd think it would be changed by now if it was a mistake.

 

Here is an article that shows updates to the "Range Rover" wordmark while introducing the new secondary "Double R" logo. The font rework for Range Rover is real and not a website issue.

One aspect of the design closer to the more historical Range Rover font is it allows the R's to stack more proportionately. As everyone was focused on the "Double R stack" very few noticed the Range Rover font had in fact changed as well.
https://www.designweek.co.uk/range-r...ark-and-motif/

Given the above, the JLR sites (US and ROW) are showing the new Range Rover wordmark and it is not website formatting issue.

Now look at the Defender account on X, the profile photo clearly shows a revised "DEFENDER" wordmark at the top. It is taller and not as extended, just as shown on the the JLR vehicle websites we are discussing. This wordmark is a return to something close to the original Defender font.
https://x.com/defender

An X post regarding the Defender OCTA Black also shows the same revised wordmark:

Defender Camp has a display with the taller and shorter Defender wordmark:

And lastly, the hood lettering on the published photos of the Dakar Rally Defender, while this wordmark has more spacing between the letters (fills the width of the hood well) the letters appear certainly taller and not stretched out individually.


Thus, my thoughts are it is safe to say there has been a change to both Defender and Range Rover wordmarks. JLR is clearly using it on websites and other branding for Defender, one would think it may even appear on the vehicles that have the 2026 MY refresh, regardless of what the images published thus far may not show as many times they are Photoshop mashups. Time will tell.

 

Just got an email invite to Destination Defender in California. Note the "DEFENDER" wordmark difference between 2024 and 2025.


This sticks a fork in it. The change is being used all across JLR communications, coming to a vehicle near you.

 

In print the old font looks better. Seems like an Apple iPhone maneuver - changing something just for the sake of change - when everything was perfectly fine. Would have to see it in person to really decide though.