Land Rover LRX - a huge step forward.

As I’ve said before, ‘concept’ cars aren’t concepts anymore. They are the car makers way of saying “Our guys have come up with this. What do you think? Will you buy it?”. They’re not one step up from the clay models of old, but in most cases fully working cars. Sure, they may not have the mechanics (engines, gearboxes etc.) they will get in production, but most of them are at least drivable. And so it is with Land Rovers baby concept, the LRX.

Despite the ‘Green Nazis’ telling the world we’re all doomed, Land Rover go from strength to strength, reportedly having their best year ever in 2007. And justifiably so; they have a great range of cars, even if, contrary to what has become received wisdom, they are not as reliable as they should be (true, they have improved enormously, but it is reported that Land Rover make a big loss on every warranty they sell, so the motto is ‘Keep it less than 3 Years’). But the company has to look to the future, and the possibility that there are enough gullible people out there who believe all the ‘Man-Made Global Warming’ garbage, and run scared of running a 4×4.

There is no doubt that adversity is the mother of invention (just look at the huge technological strides made in WW2), and in many ways these are adverse conditions for motor manufacturers. The doom mongers have been saying for years that oil will run out (absolute garbage - there is more oil in North American shale and sand than in the Middle East, and with oil at $100 a barrel it is economically viable), making car makers look at alternate fuels. And the green brigade have been telling us we are making the planet boil by burning fossil fuels (more garbage - there have been no mean temperature increases in the last 10 years!).

So lots of reasons to look for new ways of powering vehicles. And that’s a good thing. Although I’m not naive enough to subscribe to the green doctrine, I am all for efficiency and cost savings. And that is the big positive of the situation. Cleaner, more powerful and more efficient engines (I like the more power bit best!). Just look at what Audi have done with their diesels. And Land Rover are going the same way.

The Land Rover LRX is a small (by Land Rover Standards) 4×4 with Hybrid power. But that hybrid power is being utilised in the form of a diesel engine and electric motor. It is being cleverly adapted to give even better off-road traction by using the electric motors to give jolts of power to individual corners of the car to aid traction. Good thinking, batman! That’s what I like. Lateral thinking. Yes, you appease the vociferous green lobby with lower emissions and better economy, but you deliver more power at less running cost, more efficiently. I knew if I looked long enough I’d find something I liked about the green loonies!

The LRX is only the second ever ‘Concept’ from Land Rover (the first being what became the RRS). I just hope this goes in to production unchanged. Yes, some of the mad interior ideas will go - they always do - but in essence this car is so on the money it would be sacrilege to change it too much. I’m sure the big wheels will go for the work-a-day models (but please, keep them as an option) and there will have to be a five door. But apart from that, please Land Rover, keep it as it is.

Look out for the Land Rover LRX for sale from late 2009. It should be worth the wait.