Land Rover unveiled a bold new diesel-electric hybrid concept at the North
American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit yesterday.
The LRX, a sleek sport utility vehicle, promises to get 50 miles per gallon
and form an integral part of Land Rover’s planned $1.3 billion investment in
sustainable technology – a proposed expenditure the British brand plans to
fulfil over the next five years.
With Ford Motor Company looking to offload the brand, the concept promises to
move Land Rover in a new direction. Phil Popham, Land Rover’s Managing
Director said that the LRX will maintain Land Rover’s off-road capabilities,
but will aim at a different type of consumer with different requirements.
“We’ve got to make sure if we are moving into a different segment with a
different type of Land Rover, that we actually produce a vehicle that people
want to buy,” said Popham.
Earlier this month, Ford named Indian automaker Tata Motors Ltd. as the top
bidder for both Land Rover and Jaguar, replacing the other two bidders,
Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and U.S. private equity firm
One Equity Partners LLC, as most likely purchaser. Tata Motors announced a
new small car of their own in Delhi last week – the
Nano –- which will be the
cheapest production car in the world , as part of an aggressive strategy
for expansion that included its largest ever presence at the Delhi Auto
Expo, showcasing a new range of 17 models of cars, utility vehicles, trucks
and buses at the 5200-square meter Tata-Fiat pavillion.
“Our expectation is that if we are sold, the purchaser would be investing in
the business based on the business plan that the board has presented to
them,” Popham said after unveiling the white concept vehicle. “That includes
the opportunity for this car.”
The concept comes at a time when many major manufacturers are looking to
produce smaller vehicles, and the motoring industry as a whole is moving
gradually towards a greener agenda. BMW has unveiled its first
diesel-powered vehicles for the U.S. market, the 335d coupe and X5 xDrive35d
sport utility vehicle. Toyota announced plans to offer a plug-in hybrid to
compete with GM’s
electric Chevy Volt – both are set to hit the road in 2010 – and
promised to introduce two new dedicated hybrids at next year’s Detroit Auto
Show. Honda unveiled the FCX Clarity fuel-cell powered sedan, which will be
leased to a limited number of customers in California later this year, and
vowed to increase hybrid sales to 10 percent of its global volume by 2010.
And even Ferrari has a biofuel vehicle on display – the F430 Spider.
The LRX is one of a number of ambitious concept vehicles which will be
presented to the public for the first time when the motor show in Detroit
opens on Saturday, January 19.
Why is it that gas cost 21/2 times more in the UK than it does in the US ?
Brian.
brian lee, medina, USA ohio
Very interesting to have a diesel-electric hybrid that gets 50 mpg of PETROL!!!
Dave, St Amand, FRANCE
What a fantastic looking vehichle! I am sure that with legislation and more importantly, market forces will undoubtedly push the majority of the market to be much greener, and perhaps more importantly, more fuel efficient -espescially at plus £1.08 a Litre and rising.
Dominic Tattersall, Burnley, England
To me it looks the same as the Ranger Rover Storm concept car that LR said would be the new Range Rover Sport. In the end it looked nothing like the concept vehicle, so i don't expect to see a LR looking anything like this. I would imagine it will turn out to be just a smaller Freelander.
Dave, Warwick,
Very nice. A car a Stormtrooper would drive!
I like the sound of a soft SUV which is green and eco friendly. That makes it wife friendly too, so i would have to put my name on the waiting list. Good job LR.
PS: Nicer looking than the Sport.
JH.
James Hunter, Hayes, Middx,
Kind of cute don't u think.
It's like a Murano and a Range Rover had a baby :)
Wesley, New York,