Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) confirmed yesterday that the LRX concept shown at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show will go into production and debut for the 2011 model year as part of the Range Rover series.
We showed you spy photos of an 2011 Range Rover LRX mule last week, though it was difficult to make out the new vehicle's lines since it was camouflaged in truncated LR2 body panels. The production LRX will be a two-door like the concept vehicle.
The proportions were likely pretty close, though, as the Range Rover LRX will be the smallest Land Rover in the lineup. It's 5.9 inches shorter nose to tail than the current LR2 and stands 8.1 inches shorter. As such, it simply won't have the ground clearance for off-roading. Still, it will have Land Rover's Terrain Response system, though an Eco driving mode will be added.
Land Rover will build the LRX at its Halewood, UK plant, which is good news for British workers. About 800 additional workers will be needed, and that should mean no jobs will be lost when JLR closes either its Castle Bromwich (Jaguar) or Solihull (Land Rover) factory in 2010.
Inside Line News: Range Rover LRX Going Into Production for 2011
The Guardian
Categories: Crossovers,Future Vehicles,Land Rover,SUVs
Updated
Remember the Land Rover LRX compact crossover coupe concept from the 2008 Detroit Auto Show? Yeah, the highly styled two-door with 20-inch wheels that gave the impression that anything more rugged than a flat dirt road might be a problem.
Well, sources indicate that Land Rover's LRX coupe has moved from concept to production certainty, reportedly due for a public debut June 17, 2010 (Land Rover's 40-year anniversary). The first LRX test mule has hit the test circuit, popping up on the Nurburgring this morning for our first-ever sighting.
Although based on the Land Rover LR2, the production version of the LRX is expected to join the Range Rover lineup. This has led to speculation that the end result may be a more upright 5-door configuration instead of the sleek 3-door coupe, although this remains unconfirmed.
This first prototype, which shares the LR2's wheelbase, displays a truncated rear-quarter, with a shorter distance between the C- and D-pillars. The repackaged rear-end suggests that some element of the LRX's coupe-like roof line slope will still be a part of the final model's design. Don't get too hung up on the LR2 body panels you see on this test mule; they're being used largely as camouflage here and the production LRX should look much different (and mostly likely, much more like the concept).
This newest addition to the Range Rover line is expected to start production in early 2011.
There's another photo after the jump.
2008 Detroit Auto Show: Land Rover LRX concept
Continue reading Spy Photos: Land Rover LRX.
Categories: Future Vehicles,Land Rover,SUVs,Spy Photos
Ford never could figure out how to make money on Jaguar and Land Rover, and now Tata Motors is struggling with the very same problem, albeit in a much tougher economy. The Wall Street Journal reports that the company posted a net loss of $67 million (3.29 billion rupees) for the fiscal quarter ending June 30. In the same quarter last year, Tata recorded a net profit of $147 million (7.2 billion rupees).
With the addition of the Jaguar/Land Rover model lines, Tata's net sales were actually up 13 percent year over year, says the WSJ -- yes, even though Jaguar-Land Rover unit sales were way down in the U.S. and Europe. But this wasn't enough to offset the added expense of owning these two brands.
So now there's just a little more on the line with the make-or-break launch of the redesigned 2010 Jaguar XJ, which goes into production this fall.
Wall Street Journal (sub.req)
Inside Line First Look: 2010 Jaguar XJ
Categories: Auto Industry,Jaguar,Land Rover,Tata Motors
This long list of events is your chance to throw away your inhibitions and lay down some rubber. Some of the track days make you bring your own vehicle, while others provide you with a machine to pilot. Either way, find the right event and brush up on your driving skills by booking some track time at the links below.
Continue reading Hit Up the Track With These Events.
Categories: Audi,BMW,Bentley,Chevrolet,Chrysler,Consumer Track Events,Dodge,Ferrari,Ford,Infiniti,Jaguar,Jeep,Lamborghini,Land Rover,Lotus,MINI,Maserati,Mazda,Mitsubishi,Porsche,Saab,Scion,Subaru,Toyota
Land Rover has announced pricing for its revised 2010 Range Rover. The base HSE model will retail for $79,275 while the Supercharged version will suck your wallet dry to the tune of $95,125.
Both vehicles feature Land Rover's new 5.0-liter V8 engine along with revised interiors and exteriors.
2010 Land Rover Range Rover
Categories: Land Rover,Luxury Cars,New York Auto Show,SUVs
The Land Rover LR2 is sort of like the McMansion of SUVs: It's bigger and has more room than most of the people who own the vehicle need, and it's not quite as prestigious as more upscale models. But for weekend warriors and urban explorers of a certain means, it still makes a statement. Such as, "I have enough money to buy one of these, but someday hope to have Range Rover Sport." Or "I bet I can bike/run/swim/kayak faster than you."
But going for the lower-cost Rover gets you almost as many of the the tech toys as paying more than $60k for the fully outfitted top-of-the-line Sport. In fact, some of the electronics in our 2009 Land Rover LR2 test vehicle (sticker price $40,875) are actually the same if not better than in the 2009 Range Rover Sport HSE we recently tested -- although not on par with the tech in other vehicles in the segment.
Continue reading Inside Line Technology Review: 2009 Land Rover LR2 HSE.
Categories: Car Tech,Land Rover
If you have never driven on a race track, you should. If your skills are weak, track time will make them better. And if you think you're an undiscovered Tony Stewart, well then, get out there and prove it. The list that follows after the jump gives some ideas where you might try your luck both on the road and in the dirt.
Continue reading Looking for Track Time? Find It Here.
Categories: Audi,BMW,Bentley,Chevrolet,Chrysler,Consumer Track Events,Dodge,Ferrari,Ford,Infiniti,Jaguar,Jeep,Lamborghini,Land Rover,Lexus,Lotus,MINI,Maserati,Mazda,Porsche,Saab,Scion,Subaru,Toyota
Long before the landscape was crawling with Escalades, Cayennes and all manner of alphabetized and numbered blinged-out boats from Mercedes, Audi and others, the Range Rover was the original luxury SUV. Even now, with vehicles in the category about as popular as mortgage-backed securities and McMansions, the legendary British marque is still equal parts regal and raffish, a combination that especially appeals to affluent soccer moms and weekend warriors. And, lest we forget, serious off-roaders.
But you're more likely to find a Ford Ranger than a Range Rover mud-bogging with a bunch of good ol' boys. The 2009 Range Rover Sport HSE we recently tested (sticker price $62,725) is a vehicle more suited for showing up at an apres-bike-ride Sunday brunch or at the tennis club for a set of mixed doubles. And while some of the vehicle's coolest gadgets are geared to its 4x4 underpinnings, it has plenty of tech to keep the Type As that typically drive this vehicle connected, entertained, and suitably pampered.
Continue reading Inside Line Technology Review: 2009 Range Rover Sport HSE.
Categories: Car Tech,Land Rover
In advance of the New York Auto Show, Land Rover had invited the press to its U.K. headquarters in Gaydon for extensive technical briefs on its 2010 Range Rover, Range Rover Sport,and LR4 models. Arriving in London early on the first morning, Land Rover shuttled us to its spiritual home at Eastnor Castle for a rare drive of some of the most interesting models from the Land Rover Heritage Fleet.
Continue reading Getting Olde Schooled at Land Rover's "Spiritual Home".
Categories: Land Rover
#NYIAS Can you tell this is the 2010 Land Rover Range Rover? If so, congratulations. You know way too much about Land Rovers.
Most of the changes are underneath the hood, as this refreshed Rover gets the same 5.0-liter V8 first shown in Jaguar's XF sedan and XK coupe. It's a modest upgrade for a vehicle that didn't really need it.
The interior gets a new digital gauge cluster, along with even more optional leather trim. For full details on this year's refresh of Land Rover's flagship, see our full story on the 2010 Land Rover Range Rover. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
Full Story: 2010 Land Rover Range Rover
Categories: Land Rover,Luxury Cars,New York Auto Show,SUVs
#NYIAS For a vehicle that many thought was completely unnecessary, the Range Rover Sport has done quite well for Land Rover. And there's no reason that success won't continue with the 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport as it gets a new set of engines and enough minor upgrades to keep it fresh against new competition. Most importantly, Land Rover didn't fuss with the Sport's distinctive styling. For more details, see our full story on this hot rod Range Rover.
Full Story: 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Categories: Land Rover,Luxury Cars,New York Auto Show,SUVs
#NYIAS The name change says "all-new," but this is really a heavily revised version of the current LR3. An all-new 5.0-liter V8 is the big news for the 2010 Land Rover LR4. First introduced in Jaguar's latest sedans, the new V8 produces 375 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque. A revised suspension, new brakes and minor styling upgrades are also part of the 2010 LR4. For a more detailed description, see our full story.
Full Story: 2010 Land Rover LR4
Categories: Jaguar,Land Rover,Luxury Cars,New York Auto Show,SUVs
#NYIAS Don't feel left out if you don't notice the changes to the 2010 Land Rover Range Rover. Like the Range Rover itself, the upgrades are subtle. In fact, the biggest news is under the hood, so even Land Rover purists would have a tough time spotting the differences.
Like the rest of Land Rover's 2010 lineup, this new Range Rover gets the same 5.0-liter V8s first introduced in the latest Jaguar coupes and sedans. Available in both standard and supercharged versions, the newly modernized eight-cylinder provides Land Rover's top-range model with the kind of horsepower and refinement you expect for the big money it commands. See our full story for the rest of the details.
Full Story: 2010 Land Rover Range Rover
Categories: Jaguar,Land Rover,Luxury Cars,New York Auto Show,SUVs
Land Rover hasn't come out and said it just yet, but a recent press release all but confirms a production version of the LRX concept shown in Detroit last year. The release was issued on account of the British government offering up help in the way of a roughly $32M grant for production of a new vehicle.
"We welcome the Government's support for this project, which would form a key part of our future product plans and which we very much want to put into production," said Phil Popham, Managing Director of Land Rover.
Don't have to read between the lines on that one very hard. The only confusion left now is how the vehicle will be positioned in the lineup. "It would be the smallest, lightest and most efficient Range Rover that we've ever built," Phil added. "The compact size, lighter weight and sustainability-focused technologies of the LRX Concept showed how Land Rover is planning to respond to the needs of a changing world."
Not sure what "smallest Range Rover" means, hopefully more than just a really expensive LR2.
Categories: Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Green Tech,Land Rover,Luxury Cars,SUVs
It looks like the Land Rover/Jaguar acquisition is going to cost Tata a pretty penny; make that $100 billion pennies (or $1 billion dollars). That's what the latest reports are suggesting--and that's after buying the two brands for $2.3 billion.
Ouch.
Full story here.
Categories: Jaguar,Land Rover,Luxury Cars,SUVs,Tata Motors
