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Land Rover claims its new compact LRX demonstrates its "seriousness about continued relevance and sustainability". That's a posh way of saying that the Ford-owned maker doesn't plan to stick entirely to supersized, overweight off-road machines that give two fingers to environmental concerns.
"The LRX concept delivers the powerful message we are as serious about sustainability as we are confident about the continuing desirability of our vehicles," says Phil Popham, Land Rover's managing director.
"The LRX is in every respect a Land Rover, but it's a very different Land Rover. The 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."
The LRX embraces the current fashion for cross-coupe off-roaders - high-riding wagons that borrow styling cues from sports cars. It is smaller than the Freelander and has been created around a three-door bodyshell.
The styling employs familiar Land Rover cues, such as the clamshell bonnet and "floating roof", with blacked-out pillars. But the car's lighter weight and compact size are intended to make it more suitable, and environmentally acceptable, for urban driving.
The LRX moves Land Rover more clearly from the off-road to crossover genres than any previous model. But the company also says its rugged image remains intact with this car.
The LRX has full-time four-wheel drive and Hill Descent Control, and a special version of Land Rover's Terrain Response system to optimise traction on difficult surfaces ranging from icy roads to wet grass, gravel and snow. But to reflect the more on-road bias, Terrain Response also gains a new eco mode for lower-emission urban driving.
The luxury cabin reflects the car's premium positioning, right down to a dedicated dock in the centre console for Apple's super-trendy new iPhone.
The different drivetrain modes are matched by changes in the cabin's background lighting colour - green in economy, red in sports and blue in standard mode.
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. This also has integral aluminium cupholders between two padded seating areas, for a new twist on the idea of a traditional Land Rover tailgate lunch.
The LRX's seats "float" on individual plinths and have open frameworks to reinforce the impression of interior space - while also creating under-seat and under-floor stowage areas.
The powered mechanism of the seat backs helps create a large, flat storage area, complete with multiple tie-down options. The through-loading option also accommodates bikes, skis or surfboards.
Even the choice of trim materials reflects eco-thinking, 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.
The vanilla-coloured suede-like material on the door inserts and headliner is a 100 per cent recycled material made from used plastic bottles.
Land Rover says the LRX adopts intelligent power management systems and other technologies first shown in the Land-e concept in 2006.
