LAND ROVER purists had better brace themselves for a shock, for the legendary British four wheel drive maker is about to do the unthinkable.
For the company which has built its reputation by making some of the world’s most rugged – and most luxurious - four by four off road machines has announced that it is planning to produce a two wheel drive model.
The car in question is the forthcoming new, compact Range Rover, due to be launched next year and based on the LRX concept car which was first revealed two years ago.
It will have four wheel drive as standard, but Land Rover has now announced that it will also introduce a two wheel drive option for the new compact Range Rover as part of its quest to lower emissions across its range.
The company says that the two wheel drive vehicle will emit less than 130 g/km of CO2 – making it the lightest, most fuel efficient Range Rover ever.
The move comes as part of an £800 million investment by JaguarLandRover in developing environmental technologies. The programme will also see the launch within the next three years of diesel hybrid versions of other Land Rover models.
The company says that it will be testing the first diesel hybrid prototype - called the 'range_e' - by the end of this year and that its first diesel hybrid will be available in 2012 and on the road in 2013.
The new hyrbrid system is being developed using a Range Rover Sport platform. Tests of this vehicle will use the existing three litre TDV6 diesel engine featuring a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. The goal is to achieve a range of 20 miles using electric power, emissions of less than 100 g/km of CO2 and to achieve a top speed of around 120 mph.
Says Phil Popham, Land Rover managing director: "Land Rover has announced that the all-new compact Range Rover will be available in 2WD. This is good news for the company and for our customers. 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."