You're looking at Land Rover's next big thing. The LRX concept making its debut at the Detroit show is small, sporty, and designed to be as luxurious as any Landie. It could go on sale in three years or so for more money than the 10-inch-longer LR2/Discovery. It's Land Rover's Mini Cooper or Audi TT says design director Gerry McGovern, showing off his first concept since leaving Lincoln.
With a sports-car-fast windshield, low, sloping roofline, and wheels pushed out to the four corners, it looks longer than it is in the vacuum of a single-car studio showing. Note how the shoulderline rises faster than the beltline. The C-pillars have see-through openings leading into a rather squat rear window. These cues combine with traditional Land Rover exterior design elements; hexagonal grille, vents atop the power-bulge hood and with the vent shape repeated in the front fenders, dark wheel-lip accents and 20-inch wheels. The hood opens clamshell-style and the power tailgate is two-piece, top- and bottom-hinged.
We've seen countless small two-door coupe SUV concepts the past few years, before production versions arrive with four doors. That's not the idea here: The LRX would be a smaller, sportier alternative to the Range Rover Sport.
Other details
1. Full-time all-wheel drive with Hill Descent Control.
2. Uncovered aluminum (no wood trim) as part of the seat structure and dash.
3. 2+2 seats are attached to the center-tunnel console, split into three piece when folded forward.
4. Polycarbonate side window, large sunroof are 40 percent lighter than glass.
5. Leather seats and trim are vegetable-tanned, chromium-free.
6. Headliner and vanilla "suede" door inserts are made of recycled glass bottles.
7. Concept built on LR2 platform; it's 171.3-inches long, 78.7-inches wide on a 104.3-inch wheelbase and just 61-inches tall.