Range Rover LRX announced

Land Rover has confirmed they will be making the baby Range Rover – the Range Rover LRX. The LRX will debut in 2010 and go on sale in 2011.

It’s been in the melting pot for some time, the Range Rover LRX. But we didn’t know until today – when Land Rover officially acknowledged that it is to be made – that it’s going to be badged Range Rover. We all thought it would be the Land Rover LRX. But I guess Land Rover want to show the world it can make a ‘Small’ Range Rover, not just a small Land Rover. A subtle – but important – difference.

We last reported on the Land Rover LRX last month, when it became pretty clear that Land Rover are pushing ahead with the project after receiving some Government funding for the LRX Concept in March. And it seemed that they were planning to show the RR LRX in June next year – 40 years on from the first showing of the original luxury off-roader – the Range Rover – in 1970. That now seems to be confirmed, with Land Rover stating the LRX will debut next year and go on sale in 2011.

The new Range Rover LRX will be built at Halewood on Merseyside, where the Jaguar X-Type is currently produced. But as Jaguar is ending production of the X-Type this year, production of the LRX at Halewood should secure its future. Good news for Liverpool.

The LRX will come as a Hybrid, with an electric motor running the back axle. In this configuration you can expect 60+ mpg and low emissions. And it couldn’t come at a better time for Land Rover. A lot of the world is trading down from big gas-guzzlers, but they don’t want to give up the luxury and prestige in the process. A smaller – but just as luxurious – Range Rover will provide car buyers with a viable alternative.

Land Rover has promised us more detail before too long.

Range Rover LRX Concept Photo Image Gallery