Detroit Preview: Land Rover LXR Concept
UPDATE: Land Rover has requested we remove the image, and since we can't verify that the automaker itself is at fault for the leak and the image wasn't obtained illegally, we've agreed to remove it. You'll be able to see the real thing soon enough when we attend the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January.
Remember that concept sketch Land Rover released around the time of the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show? It showed a sleek, two-door SUV, but being a teaser contained no additional information about when or where the actual concept would debut. Based on past precedent, we surmised that Land Rover would debut the concept this January at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, and based on this single image sent by a reader to Carscoop.com, it appears that might be the case. The reader claims this is an official image of the Land Rover LXR Concept, a two-door concept SUV that precedes a production model to be slotted in below the Freelander and available for sale sometime in 2011. We don't know how the reader obtained the image, and we're not asking.
Land Rover is currently enjoying its best sales year in history, so expanding the lineup with an even more attainable model seems like a bright idea. We'll be on hand in Detroit next month to see if the LXR Concept in fact shows up, and we're inclined to agree with Carscoop that it will.
[Source: Carscoop]
Remember that concept sketch Land Rover released around the time of the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show? It showed a sleek, two-door SUV, but being a teaser contained no additional information about when or where the actual concept would debut. Based on past precedent, we surmised that Land Rover would debut the concept this January at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, and based on this single image sent by a reader to Carscoop.com, it appears that might be the case. The reader claims this is an official image of the Land Rover LXR Concept, a two-door concept SUV that precedes a production model to be slotted in below the Freelander and available for sale sometime in 2011. We don't know how the reader obtained the image, and we're not asking.Land Rover is currently enjoying its best sales year in history, so expanding the lineup with an even more attainable model seems like a bright idea. We'll be on hand in Detroit next month to see if the LXR Concept in fact shows up, and we're inclined to agree with Carscoop that it will.
[Source: Carscoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Devin 1:25PM (12/10/2007)
the next big styling cliche? hood extractors?
Overall though, it looks kickass.
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Ligor 2:47PM (12/10/2007)
it they're functional i don't mind them, if not just save the money as this car looks great from what we can see.
the current Range Rover is possibly the best looking SUV ever created
Doogs 3:28PM (12/10/2007)
Nah. The ORIGINAL Range Rover (up through '94/'95) is the best-looking SUV ever created. Hell, it found its way into the Louvre.
I see your modern-day, teched-out, overpriced Rangie and raise you the original model, whose notion of luxury was leather seats and power windows.
British_Rover 7:29PM (12/10/2007)
Well the original Range Rover launched back in 1970 didn't even have leather, power windows Automatic trans or four doors. It was a two door model with a four speed manual and a 3.5 liter V8. It could keep up with most saloon cars and crush many of the estates made during that time. It had a top speed of over 100 mph and could still cross the Darien Gap in South America. There was nothing like it and it was truly bad ass.
The Range Rover like all other cars has evolved and since it was fairly luxurious compared to other utility vehicles made back in the 1970s it is more luxurious now and that is how it should be.
It isn't often that I don't know about what is going on at Land Rover so I will have to hit up my contacts and see what is up.
My main contact was on vacation last week and all of this week so that might explain things.
I can see this concept working and it fits in with what little I have heard about it. The information that I have heard in addition to what provided here is this...
This vehicle will start at a price point below the Freelander 2/LR2.
It will finish slightly above the LR2 with more luxury features and a higher end power plant.
My guess is that the vehicle will be based on a shortened version of the EUCD platform used by the LR2. Base engines will probably be the same 3.2 Inline 6 gas and TD4 diesel that the LR2 uses but I can see a higher end engine based of the new T6 in the S80. Probably with direct injection and a few other new features to get a little more horsepower with better fuel efficiency.
Maybe a version of the Yamaha V8 from the XC90 and S80? Land Rover already said that the Yamaha V8 would fit in the LR2 but they would have to sell it for around 50,000 USD which would be well above the top end of the LR2. My sources have already told me that this new Landie concept would straddle the price range of the LR2/Freelander 2 so maybe the V8 is doable.
JM 2:03PM (12/10/2007)
love that super-panoramic moonroof.
I'll have one please!
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akatsuki 2:16PM (12/10/2007)
I would rather they kept the boxy profile. These things look more like toys every day and the heritage of African safaris is further away every day... If they want to come out with a BMW X3 competitor or whatever, they should do it with a different brand.
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Bill 2:09PM (12/10/2007)
Land Rover is on a roll... it would be a shame to see tata or mohinder & mohinder or whatever those companies name's are screw it up.
I think the current Range Rover is one of the most beautiful vehicles on the road (cars included). On top of that, it rides/handles like a 7-series and off-roads like a wrangler.
The LR3 is a great all-purpose vehicle... not as upscale or as nice to look at as a range rover, but it serves its purpose incredibly well and does so at a competitive price.
I don't particularly care for the LR2 or the Range Rover Sport, but that's more of an opinion thing.
If this car was the Range Rover Sport minus two doors with a nicer interior and 4 seats I would be all over it. It's too bad it's supposed to come in sub-LR2. Imagine a Range Rover (Real one... not sport) interior, supercharged engine and real off-road capability/ full time 4 wheel drive with 4 seats and a decent sized trunk. That would be a cool car... kind of a GT-SUV or something... pretty much what BMW is going for with the X6, but something that would actually work off-road (or in the snow for that matter).
Anyone know when we're gonna start seeing what the next gen full sized Range Rover might look like?
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Dave 3:46PM (12/10/2007)
Well, the new RR first Prototype build will be April 2008. Start watching for camo-ed RR Summer 08 for sneak peaks.
Production will begin early 09 for an early 10MY introduction. LA 08 or Detroit 09 maybe a good time for debuting the new look.
mk 3:30PM (12/10/2007)
I've always kind of liked the Range Rover Sport.
The Range Stormer concept it came from was three-door, and it looks like this is going back in that direction.
If it is sleek enough, I could even see it garnering a few coupe-car convert sales. It would be cool if it had height-adjustable suspension. Low for normal good weather, and higher for snow etc... and light rough-roading. (it isn't a disco, though, so it doesn't need to be ready for safari at a moment's notice...)
In the snow belt, a choice between a slick coupe that drives well 3-seasons of the year, or something like this that drives pretty well in those three seasons, and even better in the winter, or off the beaten path, could be very cool.
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garland823 4:20PM (12/10/2007)
No, it's not a Disco. But it IS a Land Rover, so it DOES need to be ready for a safari at a moment's notice. Land Rover is what Jeep and Hummer want to be, in terms of capability. Just ask the special forces.
Chris G 3:36PM (12/10/2007)
I would probably say that this would more likely be a two door version of the RR Sport and not a model below the LR2 (Freelander)...
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k.w.a 4:25PM (12/10/2007)
Agreed. I couldn't imagine a (cool) Land Rover that's cheaper or smaller than a LR2
lovice 5:40PM (12/10/2007)
I understand what you guys are saying here. But I have to disagree though. Coz I'm driving a 2006 Freelander TD4 Sport 3dr. And it's very popular here in the west Europe. You have to remember that Freelander has always had a 3dr version. Since the current Range Rover has already got a 'sports' version (or shall I say the current Discovery has got a 'sports' version, this one should be the 3dr sports version of the new Freelander.