Land Rover LRX. Click image to enlarge |
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Land Rover LRX
Detroit, Michigan - Land Rover unveiled a vision of its future today at the North American International Auto Show with the world debut of the LRX hybrid concept vehicle.
As the company prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary during 2008, the two-door LRX, with its more compact size, lighter weight and sustainability-focused technologies, addresses the needs of a changing world and offers the potential of low 120 g/km CO2 emissions.
"The LRX concept delivers the powerful message that we are as serious about sustainability as we are confident about the continuing relevance and desirability of our vehicles," said Phil Popham, Land Rover's managing director. "LRX is in every respect a Land Rover, but it's a very different Land Rover. At this stage, the LRX is purely a concept, designed to help us develop our thinking as well as gauge customer reaction -- but this feels like a hugely exciting direction to take."
The LRX is powered by a 2.0-litre, turbo diesel engine, capable of running on bio-diesel. In combination with other Land Rover technologies, this powertrain could reduce fuel consumption by as much as 30 per cent compared with other SUVs of comparable size, as well as reduce emissions, says the company.
The concept's integrated Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) would allow the LRX to use electric drive alone at lower speeds while retaining full (even improved) sport utility ability in tough conditions. Unlike the hybrid technology used by some SUV rivals, Land Rover's unique solution retains mechanical drive to all four wheels.
Off-road, the ERAD would provide additional torque only when it is needed, and with maximum electrical torque from standstill, this solution offers even better low-speed control and enhanced pull-away on difficult surfaces. On the road, the ERAD would allow low-speed traffic creep up to 20 mph on electric power alone, with the Integrated Starter-Generator (ISG) function re-starting the engine automatically when needed. The electric drive would then continue to assist the mechanical drive until the engine is running in its most efficient range. The ISG would also stop the engine automatically when the vehicle halts in traffic, so the engine does not idle needlessly, and restart it quickly and smoothly as required.
"We are determined to make sustainability a key element in our future product design and the way we do business, while still creating vehicles that have a strong emotional appeal as well as fulfilling people's practical needs," added Phil Popham. "No single technology delivers all the answers to whole-life sustainability, but the LRX concept brings together some of the ideas for the future that interest us, integrating them into a car that we believe represents an exciting way forward for Land Rover."
