'Son of Range Rover' arrives

Land Rover responds to a changing world with its latest model.

Land Rover has a new "son of Range Rover" - a baby model due to make its debut next year.

It is based on the LRX concept first shown at the 2008 Detroit motor show and tipped to join Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models in showrooms in 2011.

No official name has been revealed, and, at present, the car is referred to simply as the Range Rover Compact.

Land Rover managing director Phil Popham said: "It would be the smallest, lightest and most efficient Range Rover that we've ever built.

"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."

The new model's development is being backed by a 27 million ($72 million) British government grant, money that will be drawn as needed by Land Rover as the project progresses. The aid is being provided on the understanding that the vehicle will be built at Land Rover's factory at Halewood, Merseyside, which employs 2000 people and also builds some Jaguars.

Although the car's technical specification is still being determined, it's thought the newcomer is likely to share some parts with the Freelander and offer an engine range capable of delivering on the firm's CO2 emissions promise of 150g/km.

A hybrid version is also thought to be under development, capable of returning less than 120g/km.

The new powertrain options are part of the four-wheel-drive specialist's "e-terrain" technologies strategy, a green goal to exceed a 20 per cent improvement in CO2 emissions.

Popham said: "Our engineering feasibility study has shown that we can successfully deliver Range Rover levels of quality, drivability and breadth of performance in a more compact, more sustainable package.

"Feedback from the most extensive customer research we have ever undertaken also fully supports our belief that a production version of the LRX Concept would further raise the desirability of our brand and absolutely meets all those expectations."