Land Rover confirms 2WD for compact Range Rover, diesel hybrid coming in 2012

Land Rover has officially confirmed that it will introduce a 2WD option in addition to the 4WD derivative of its new compact Range Rover, also known as the LRX. The 2WD model will go on sale in 2011 along side the 4WD model and will emit less than 130g/km of CO2, making it the lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever produced.

“This is good news for the company and for our customers,” said Phil Popham, Land Rover managing director. “A 2WD option is just one way in which we are developing our vehicles efficiency whilst adding to the Land Rover range and expanding our customer base. We will continue to make the “˜world”s finest all-terrain vehicles” for those customers who require 4WD but will also now offer an alternative to those that don”t.”

Click here to get prices on the 2010 Range Rover.

Land Rover also confirmed that it is working on hybrid technology for larger vehicles in its range. “The first diesel hybrid will be available in 2012 and on the road in 2013,” Land Rover said in a statement.

It said that by the end of 2010 the company will be testing the first diesel hybrid prototype called the ‘Range_e’ which is currently being developed using the Range Rover Sport platform. The test vehicles will use the existing 3.0L TDV6 diesel engine mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic. Land Rover said that the goal is to achieve a range of 20 miles using electric power only emitting less than 100 g/km of CO2 emissions and to achieve a top speed of around 120mph.

Jaguar Land Rover has committed to investing £800 million in developing environmental technologies and remains committed to developing vehicles with sustainable features.

– By: Omar Rana