Land Rover LXR Concept: Compact Off-Roader Set For Detroit Debut

During the 2007 Frankfurt Show in September, Land Rover released a mysterious sketch of a SUV-shaped, two-door vehicle, without however giving us any details at all. Thanks to one of our dedicated readers though, we now have the first official image of Land Rover’s compact SUV. According to Jay, the concept is called LXR, and it will make its debut at the 2008 Detroit Show in January.

We contacted a few sources of ours, and from the looks of it, the LXR will form the base of a subcompact version of the Freelander. As Jay told us in the e-mail he sent us, the production version of the LXR should be launched sometime in 2011.

[Source: CarScoop]

A compact RR Sport replica priced below the Freelander?

M

No, with looks like that it has to be a premium product. I'm thinking SUV Coupe for base model Disco money.

... and it looks Mucking Afazing!

The Land Rover group have got the Cool + SUV formula sorted like no one else out there. If only their reputation for consumer satisfaction (i.e. the lack thereof) didn't continue to haunt them - without this monkey-on-the-back, maybe then Ford would be wise to hang on to this iconic brand.

Looks great anyway.

I think what is going to happen is that Ford is going to regret selling both LR and Jaguar. Both appear to be on the verge of really getting themselves together. I have never seen such a mis-managed group of great brands. VW and BMW do it right, but Ford it seems was really cluless as to what to do with any of their premium brands. Aston is in the best shape it has been in years and they sell it, and I bet the same thing will happen with LR and Jag.

M

^

Exactly.

Ford's PAG division was one of best automotive premium brand portfolio:

Volvo: entry premium cars ... competing with Infiniti, Acura, Alfa Romeo, and entry models of BMW, MB, Audi, Lexus

Jaguar: premium cars ... competing with mid & high-end cars of BMW, MB, Audi, Lexus

Aston Martin: premium sports performance cars ... competing with Porsche, entry Bentley coupes, MB & BMW high-end coupes

Land Rover: premium SUV / crossover cars ... competing with other premium SAV/SUVs of BMW, MB, Lexus, Infiniti, Audi etc

Lincoln: modern high-end luxury cars (limos) ... competing with entry Maybach, entry Bentley, high-end MB

Daimler (Ford owns the brand, and could revive it): traditional ultra-luxury coach built cars ... to compete with RR & high-end Bentley models)


The other brilliant premium portfolios are the ones by PAH:

Audi: premium cars (from entry to high-end)

Porsche: premium sports performance cars

Bentley: high-end luxury & sports cars

Lamborghini: super-performance exotic cars

Bugatti: ultra-luxury coach built cars (instead of this hillarious Veyron)


The one by Fiat:

Alfa Romeo: entry premium cars

Lancia: premium cars

Maserati: high-end luxury cars

Ferrari: super performance exotic cars




The portfolios of MB (smart, Mercedes-Benz, Maybach) and of BMW (Mini, BMW, Rolls-Royce) are also very good, but perhaps they both lack super performance brands (eg. McLaren brand would be perfect for MB).

This thing is HOT!

Not exciting, the production car will be a bore.

Whoahaha, X6 suddenly got some competition