Land Rover LRX Concept

Land Rover has unveiled a compact 4×4 concept called the LRX, which showcases a bolder new look for Land Rover design. Land Rover says the three-door LRX offers the benefits of a 4×4 in a smaller, more agile package. Gerry McGovern, Land Rover’s design director, said “LRX is a design born out of passion for the brand, but it is different, relevant, engaging and exciting - because Land Rover has never built ordinary cars…it’s a Land Rover that would be comfortable on Bond Street or Fifth Avenue, but wouldn’t flinch at getting its wheels dirty.”

Power comes from a proposed 2.0-litre turbodiesel/electric hybrid, capable of running on bio-diesel. An integrated Electric Drive Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) would allow the LRX to use electric drive alone at lower speeds while keeping full (and possibly improved) 4×4 ability in difficult conditions. Off-road the ERAD provides extra torque when needed and maximum electrical torque from standstill, which in turn offers even more low-speed control and enhanced pull-away on slippery surfaces. On the road, the ERAD allows traffic creep up to 20mph using only electric power and when required an Integrated Starter-Generator (ISG) function re-starts the engine automatically. The electric drive then assists the mechanical engine until the engine is running at its most efficient range.

This engine could offer a potential of 120g/km CO2 emissions - revolutionary for a vehicle of this type and more like the level of CO2 emissions usually found in a supermini. By comparison, the lowest emissions from a similar car are from the Nissan Qashqai, which produces 145g/km from its 1.5 DCi engine. The LRX will be the first Land Rover model to address the issue of rising levels of CO2; lower weight and smaller frontal area help to reduce drag and further improve fuel economy and emissions.

This article was taken from: motoring.reuters.co.uk