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Surprise! Land Rover confirms two-door LRX for production

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, SUV, Crossover, Land Rover

Production Land Rover LRX rendering - Click above to enlarge

Land Rover has today confirmed what we've long expected - the popular LRX Concept from the 2008 edition of the Detroit Auto Show is headed for production. The British-born automaker doesn't actually say the new 'ute will be called the LRX when it hits the market in 2011, but it will definitely be wearing a Range Rover badge and therefore likely be marketed as a premium vehicle.

No details are given about the coupe-like SUV's powertrain, but Land Rover does say the it "will be the smallest, lightest and most efficient vehicle the company has ever produced." Previous reports have suggested the production LRX will share underpinnings with the LR2 (a.k.a. the Freelander) and will be offered with an optional all-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain that may use an electric motor to power the rear wheels and a transverse engine underhood driving the front wheels.

Judging from the lone rendering released with this announcement, the basic shape from the LRX Concept should survive mostly intact, perhaps gaining a slightly more pronounced front fascia to go along with the production-necessary external door handles. Expect more details to filter out at the beginning of 2010, but in the meantime, click past the break for Land Rover's official press release.

Gallery: Land Rover LRX Concept

[Source: Land Rover]

Continue reading Surprise! Land Rover confirms two-door LRX for production

Surprise! Land Rover confirms two-door LRX for production originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Land Rover to debut LRX next June for 2011 launch

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:39:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Crossover, Land Rover, Rumormill, Luxury

Land Rover LRX Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Land Rover is set to celebrate the first 40 years of its eminently capable Range Rover line next June. What better birthday present to itself than to unleash a new model that's set to bring its wares up to date with the modern realities of fuel efficiency and a reduced environmental impact?

The vehicle in question is the new Range Rover LRX, and Autocar in the U.K. is reporting that the small Rover will see its debut on June 17, 2010 with the first production models rolling down the line in early 2011. Styling both inside and out is expected to stay very close to the well-received LRX concept from the 2008 Detroit Auto Show.

Based on underpinnings shared with the Freelander (that's the LR2 here in the States), the LRX could feature a transverse engine driving the front wheels with the first application of the marque's e TERRAIN electric drive rear axle, a setup that is said to be capable of powering the rear wheels using battery power only at speeds up to 20 mph.

Gallery: Land Rover LRX Concept

[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Land Rover to debut LRX next June for 2011 launch originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Compact hybrid Range Rover LRX gets green light

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Green, Crossover, Land Rover

Land Rover LRX Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Automakers that hope to continue doing business over the next few years need to be increasingly aware of their fuel consumption, emissions and environmental credibility. In deference to this fact, Auto Express in the U.K. is reporting that Land Rover is moving forward with plans to launch the new LRX compact hybrid 'ute, possibly with a bit of help from the U.K. government.

According to the report, Land Rover will borrow liberally from corporate partner Jaguar's hardware stable, which is rumored to soon include both hybrid and extended-range EV options. Land Rover's innovative electric drive rear axle is supposedly on the LRX menu, which would work along with the automaker's well-known and highly-effective Terrain Response System to put power to the ground wherever possible.

If there's any truth to these rumors, we shouldn't expect Land Rover to have the hybrid LRX in production until at least two years have passed. In the meantime, the British-built, Indian-owned automaker is set to debut stop/start and regenerative braking on all of its models to improve their environmental performance.

Gallery: 2008 Land Rover LRX Concept - Black & Silver

[Source: Auto Express]

REPORT: Compact hybrid Range Rover LRX gets green light originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Updated Land Rover Range Rover headed to Big Apple, more LRX details emerge

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Crossover, Land Rover

Even in the face of an overall market for SUVs that's seen demand fall by over 50% over the last year alone, Land Rover's top-level Range Rover is keeping the British/Indian automaker afloat. Sales of the Range Rover - which boasts a starting price of $78,525 - are down only 17.8-percent for the first two months of the year. It's the smaller LR3 (down 28%) and entry-level LR2 (down a whopping 57%) that are dragging the automaker's overall sales figures (down 36.6%) into the mud.

Given its importance to the brand, word that an updated Range Rover is expected at next week's New York Auto Show is big news. Spy shots of the new Rover indicate that exterior changes won't be terribly dramatic for the model that was launched way back in 2002, but there should be big news under the hood, where we expect Jaguar's 5.0-liter all-aluminum V8 engine to take up residence.

Given how well the Range Rover name resonates with 4x4 buyers, it's not surprising to hear that the British company may badge its upcoming production version of the LRX concept (which debuted at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show) as a Range Rover. Like the concept upon which it's based, the new model will be a coupe-like take on the automaker's well-defined SUV theme. However, given the frequency with which consumers already often interchange "Land Rover" (the brand) and "Range Rover" (the model) - not to mention "Range Rover Sport" (the model) - this arrangement sounds potentially confusing. Further, given the LRX's more road-oriented mission, one has to wonder if branding the LRX as a "Range Rover" will serve to dilut the range-topping vehicle's hard-earned off-road equity...

Gallery: Land Rover LRX Concept

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd | Image: Auto Express]

REPORT: Updated Land Rover Range Rover headed to Big Apple, more LRX details emerge originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Land Rover unveils Range Rover Autobiography for British show

Noah Joseph — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Land Rover, Misc. Auto Shows, UK

Click to view the Range Rover Autobiography in hi-res

Land Rover is preparing to unveil a new, even more luxurious version of its range-topping Range Rover at its home-market British International Motor Show later this month in London. Oddly named the Autobiography (though no more odd than the Vogue nameplate), the new luxury trim level features an array of premium features.

Among the elements that set the Autobiography apart from its "lesser" siblings are a choice of three new wheels (you actually get four of them, plus a spare) like the 20-inch diamond-turned alloys seen in the picture above, a pallet of new color options and stainless steel grille and side vents. Inside, the Range Rover Autobiography gets new leather trim everywhere, optional wood trim on the steering wheel and shifter, stainless steel pedals and sat-nav and TV screens.

Follow the jump to read the full press release, and click on the thumbnails below to view in high resolution (and we don't mean like living clean or eating less Doritos this year).

Gallery: Range Rover Autobiography

[Source: Land Rover]

Continue reading Land Rover unveils Range Rover Autobiography for British show

Land Rover unveils Range Rover Autobiography for British show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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