Land Rover's announced confirmation today they'll build a production version of the itty-bitty baby Ranger Rover off the LRX coupe concept. The always-looking-to-go-off-road brand's even released this new rendering of what the still nameless little tyke'll look like. Look familiar?
It should. It looks exactly like the LRX concept except it has doorhandles. Yes, this includes the Land Rover signature design elements like the clamshell hood, the floating roof and the 'wheel-at-each-corner' stance. Also, a penchant for being purchased by well-heeled Wall Street execs for their baby girls heading off to college.
Other interesting news to note is the new two-door will be built in the Halewood plant in Liverpool, subject to quality and productivity agreements. We're also being told the "West Midlands manufacturing will transfer from two plants to one by the middle of the next decade."
Full press release below:
Small Range Rover confirmed for production
Gaydon, Warwickshire, 24 September 2009 – Land Rover has confirmed today a production version of its exciting LRX concept car will be built. The new car will debut next year and join the Range Rover line-up in 2011.
Designed and engineered at Land Rover's state of the art Gaydon facility, the new Range Rover will be the smallest, lightest and most efficient vehicle the company has ever produced.
The new car will be built at the multi award-winning plant in Halewood, on Merseyside, subject to quality and productivity agreements and will be sold in over 100 countries around the world.
Phil Popham, managing director of Land Rover said: "The production of a small Range Rover model is excellent news for our employees, dealers and customers. It is a demonstration of our commitment to investing for the future, to continue to deliver relevant vehicles for our customers, with the outstanding breadth of capability for which we are world-renowned."
"Feedback from our customer research also fully supports our belief that a production version of the LRX Concept would further raise the desirability of our brand and absolutely meet their expectations." Phil added.
Gerry McGovern, Land Rover design director said "The new vehicle will be a natural extension to the Range Rover line-up, complementing the existing models and helping to define a new segment. It will be true to the concept and have many recognisable Range Rover design cues including the signature clamshell bonnet, the floating roof and the solid 'wheel-at-each-corner' stance."
More details of the new small Range Rover will be released next year.