LAND ROVER LRX CONCEPT
Source: Land Rover
Mar 3, 2008 - 12:55:50 PM
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Land Rover shows two different versions of its LRX concept in Geneva -desirable,
premium and compact 4x4s which extend the definition of ‘breadth of
capability’
Brand new, black and silver version of LRX designed to
highlight the concept's suitability for contemporary personalisation
Conceived as capable of having a range of powertrains, including a
2.0-litre turbodiesel hybrid, with potential CO2 emissions of 120 g/km and fuel
economy of 60 mpg (4.7 l/100 km)
Demonstrates Land Rover’s commitment to
sustainability – with new technologies, lightweight design and
environmentally-responsible materials
A bold evolution of Land Rover
design – but still unmistakably a Land Rover
Impeccable attention to
detail and precision of execution underpin LRX’s premium credentials
A
striking black and silver version of Land Rover's acclaimed LRX cross-coupe
concept makes its global debut at the 78e Salon International de l'Automobile,
alongside the original white LRX revealed earlier to widespread acclaim (at
NAIAS, Detroit, in January).
"With its metallic black paintwork, silver
roof and precisely detailed exterior features, the second version of the LRX
concept is designed to show how well the vehicle can deliver a contemporary
example of personalisation," says Gerry McGovern, Land Rover's design
director.
"The LRX concept already has an abundance of character, but you
can tune the appearance to reflect a customer's own personality and lifestyle.
Clever use of colour and subtle additional details enable the vehicle to be
tailored to suit an individual's style, without compromising the clean design of
the LRX," he adds.
No production plans have been confirmed yet for the LRX
concept, and both versions will now be used to gauge public, dealer and media
response to Land Rover's cross-coupe concept, as well as its interesting new
opportunities for vehicle personalisation.
"We were hugely excited by the
positive response that the original LRX concept generated when we showed it at
the Detroit Show a few weeks ago," says Phil Popham, managing director of Land
Rover. "But we've always seen scope for LRX to provide a whole showroom of
different models, with a range of powertrains including hybrids and bio-fuel
capable engines."
Using lightweight material technologies, Land Rover has
developed a series of bespoke features for the black and silver LRX that add to
the vehicle's individuality and flexibility. The removable carbon composite roof
panel contrasts with the silver-coloured roof, and has integral anchor points
for fixing snowboards and other sports equipment. The sleek black roof bars
provide another option for roof-top loads, and a compact step above the rear
bumper provides for easy roof-top access. More carbon composite is used for the
protective underbody plates at front and rear, while new, lightweight alloy
wheels with unique-design tyres signal purposefulness. And to protect the
vehicle when the going gets tough - in either urban or off-road situations -
there are smart, resilient mouldings on bumpers and sills.
"The black and
silver LRX shows a real world breadth of capability. Its all-terrain ability,
extra protection and load-carrying versatility help emphasise that it's an
authentic Land Rover, while its compact dimensions, agile handling and efficient
powertrain make it a practical proposition for everyday driving," says Phil
Popham.
BOLD EVOLUTION
The LRX concept marks a bold evolution of Land
Rover design, signalling the brand’s potential shift into new areas of the
market, while remaining true to its core values. As the company celebrates its
60th anniversary during 2008, the three-door LRX, with its more compact size,
lighter weight and sustainability-focused technologies, clearly addresses the
needs of a changing world and offers the potential of 120 g/km CO2 emissions and
fuel economy of 60 mpg (4.7 l/100km) on the European combined cycle.
“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,” says Phil Popham, Land Rover’s managing director.
“LRX is in every respect a Land Rover, but it’s a very different Land Rover.
“LRX has unmistakable Land Rover design and the breadth of capability
that you’d expect from our vehicles. But it carries those essentials into a
segment where the brand has never been before, and with a proposed level of
efficiency that would make it one of the cleanest vehicles in its class. It is
Land Rover’s way of affirming the brand’s responsible approach to future product
development. At this stage, 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.”
COMPACT AND PREMIUM
LRX is described as a
cross-coupé and dramatically extends the scope of what Land Rover represents.
Though 149 mm (5.9 in) shorter than the Freelander 2 / LR2 and 205 mm (8.1 in)
lower, LRX is conceived as a premium car, designed to appeal to new customers in
the luxury and executive sector – those who want many of the benefits of a 4x4
and the presence of a larger vehicle, but in a more compact package.
The
first all-new Land Rover revealed since Gerry McGovern became the company’s
design director, LRX is a natural extension of the Land Rover range,
complementing the existing models and helping to define a new segment. Its many
recognisable Land Rover design cues include bold new interpretations of the
signature clamshell bonnet, the floating roof and the solid
‘wheel-at-each-corner’ stance.
“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,” says Gerry McGovern. “LRX has a highly
desirable identity and the design alludes strongly to its capability, while
clearly underlining our forward-looking philosophy – it’s a Land Rover that
would be comfortable on Bond Street or Fifth Avenue, but wouldn’t flinch at
getting its wheels dirty.”
Its compact size is one of its greatest
assets, which will appeal to anyone who wants the versatile ability of an agile
4x4 with the cachet of the Land Rover name. In addition, its lower weight and
the reduced aerodynamic drag resulting from the smaller frontal area would help
give significant gains in fuel efficiency and reduced CO2
emissions.
HIGHLY EFFICIENT POWERTRAIN
The white LRX is conceived as a
highly fuel-efficient 2.0-litre, turbodiesel hybrid, capable of running on
bio-diesel. In combination with other Land Rover technologies, this powertrain
could reduce fuel consumption by as much as 30% compared with other 4x4s of
comparable size, and reduce CO2 emissions to approximately 120 g/km.
LRX’s improved efficiencies are the result of advanced mechanical and
electrical energy-saving elements, which are combined to achieve cumulative
gains in many areas.
The concept’s integrated Electric Rear Axle Drive
(ERAD) is particularly significant in Land Rover terms as it would allow LRX to
use electric drive alone at lower speeds while retaining full (even improved)
4x4 ability in tough conditions. Unlike the hybrid technology used by some 4x4
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 (such as packed snow or wet grass) or when towing.
On the road,
the ERAD would allow low-speed traffic creep up to 20 mph (32 km/h) 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, benefiting both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
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.
The electrical drive system uses power stored in a dedicated
high-voltage, high-capacity, lithium-ion battery pack, independent of the normal
12-volt battery. This is charged by a regenerative braking energy system, also
working through the ERAD.
LRX also incorporates Hill Descent Control and
Land Rover’s acclaimed and user-friendly Terrain Response system, which
optimises vehicle drivability and comfort, as well as maximising traction. On
LRX, this has five modes, including the new and efficiency-focused ‘Eco’ mode.
Principally for on-road use, this configures all the integrated elements of the
car’s system for optimised fuel economy. The other four Terrain Response modes
provided are sports (also new), general driving, sand and ‘grass/gravel/snow’ (a
single programme for slippery surfaces).
EXTENDING ‘BREADTH OF
CAPABILITY’
The positioning of LRX could be described as moving subtly from
traditional SUV to crossover, with its more car-like appearance and dynamics
that are sportier and on-road biased. But while its character is underlined by
excellent agility, handling and performance, LRX also promises the widest
breadth of capability in the class.
The design of LRX was developed
entirely in-house by Gerry McGovern’s team, driven by a passion to create a car
that truly represents Land Rover’s future thinking. It has a very dynamic
profile, with a distinctive taper to the floating roofline and a muscular
shoulder running the length of the car, accentuated by the rising beltline. The
glazing wraps right around LRX, with no exposed pillars, creating a bold design
graphic. The architectural structure of the upper body can be glimpsed through
the windows and roof – echoing some of the best contemporary
buildings.
Pushing the wheels out to the four corners helps give the car
its purposeful stance, and its front-end design makes a powerful and instantly
recognisable statement of Land Rover’s identity. The carefully sculpted corners
dramatically reduce the car’s visual overhangs front and rear.
There are
new interpretations of Land Rover’s traditional clamshell bonnet, distinctive
headlamps and perforated two-bar grille. The car has jewel-like, tapering blade
indicator clusters front and rear, and the wheelarches are wide but softly
integrated, housing highly polished, 20-inch alloy wheels.
The fine
detailing includes additional polished aluminium in the form of side-strips,
side and bonnet vents, and the exterior door releases, which are concealed in
the car’s shoulders. Graphic details such as these appear to be ‘punched out’ of
the smooth body surfaces rather than overlaid on them. The ‘frosted’ white paint
colour was especially developed for LRX and its visual depth helps to highlight
the car’s form.
IMPECCABLE, PREMIUM INTERIOR
The interior of the LRX
concept clearly demonstrates how a compact Land Rover can still be roomy,
practical, versatile – and sophisticated. The impeccably executed cabin features
a combination of soft leathers in rich tan and dark chocolate, with polished
aluminium details, while the visible structures of the seats, instrument panel
and roof architecture not only give a highly distinctive look but also help save
weight.
The ‘fast’ sloping architecture of the centre console reflects
LRX’s sporty dynamics, as does the distinctive binnacle over the instrument
cluster. The electronic display uses ‘floating’ LCD graphics to create a
three-dimensional look that can be personalised for different drivers, as well
as interacting with LRX’s touch-screen display.
The instrument graphics
present data in layers depending on their level of importance, to give maximum
relevant information with minimum distraction. When appropriate, displayed
information transfers between the main instrument cluster and the touch screen.
Further adding to LRX’s involving personality, different Terrain Response modes
are matched by changes in the cabin’s background ‘mood’ lighting colour – green
in ‘Eco’, red in sports and blue in general driving and off-road
modes.
CLEVER USE OF SPACE
Although LRX is compact, clever use of
space makes it impressively roomy, and many neat design touches maximise its
practicality. A second touch-screen area gives a fully interactive display and
control for LRX’s iPhone docking facility.
On either side of the
horizontally-split, power-operated tailgate, removable and power-adjustable
speakers include an iPod docking station. There is also a coolbox, plus a bottle
chiller that can be clipped to the lowered tailgate. The tailgate also has
integral aluminium cupholders between two padded seating areas, for a new twist
on the idea of a traditional Land Rover tailgate lunch.
Every interior
design detail combines to maximise both actual space and the feeling of space.
The clear roof is supported by a ‘spider’ frame running into the A-pillars, and
the rear quarter pillars have glazed apertures for improved visibility and a
lighter feel in the cabin.
LRX’s distinctive seats ‘float’ on individual
plinths and have open frameworks to reinforce the impression of light, airy
interior space – while also creating useful under-seat and under-floor stowage
areas. The clever, articulated mechanism of the powered seat backs maximises
interior flexibility and helps create a large, flat storage area when needed.
With the rear seats folded forward, two mountain bikes can be fitted upright
behind them, with front wheels removed and stored in dedicated slots in the
floor. Alternatively, skis and surfboards can be accommodated in the generous
load space, which has multiple tie-down options and a through-loading
option.
“Flexible load-carrying capacity is fundamental to the concept of
LRX,” says Gerry McGovern. “With this car, we’ve interpreted the idea of Land
Rover ‘breadth of capability’ to be more about versatility and on-road dynamics
than about ultimate off-roading. This meets the needs of the new customers that
we believe would be attracted by this type of car; they will not only appreciate
LRX’s flexibility, but will also recognise that it has been packaged with the
highest levels of precision.”
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT DESIGN
The exposed
structures of the seats, roof and instrument panel are just one novel approach
that Land Rover’s designers have taken to reduce vehicle weight. Another example
is replacing the glass for the side windows and roof with polycarbonate from
SABIC Innovative Plastics, which is around 40% lighter. The polycarbonate also
blocks virtually all UV light (protecting interior materials from fading), while
special nano-technology within the material reduces infra-red transmission,
helping to keep the interior cool.
Even the choice of premium-quality
trim materials reflects Land Rover’s deep thinking about sustainability, with
vegetable-tanned leather (chromium-free, so better for recycling), extensive use
of aluminium (both lightweight and readily recyclable) and carpeting made of
felt from sustainable sources. And the luxurious, vanilla-coloured ‘fine suede’
on the door inserts and headliner is a 100% recycled material made from used
plastic bottles and fibres.
“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,” says 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.”
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 4351 mm / 171.3 in
Width
(excluding mirrors): 1895 mm / 74.6 in
Width (including mirrors): 2083 mm /
82.0 in
Height: 1535 mm / 60.4 in
Wheelbase: 2660 mm / 104.7 in
Engine
(proposed): 2.0-litre turbodiesel
Fuel economy (potential): 60 mpg, 4.7
l/100 km (on European combined drive cycle)
CO2 emissions (potential): 120
g/km (on European combined drive cycle)
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