Land Rover Plans A Front Wheel Drive LRX - What Are They Thinking?

According to Autocar, March was the best month for sales ever in the 62-year history of Land Rover, with 11,300 new vehicles worldwide finding happy owners.

While congratulations are in order for that bit of news, I can’t help but question a perplexing move Land Rover has in store for its upcoming LRX.

With sales as strong as they are, it seems like a perfect opportunity for Land Rover to step up and further cement its place in the auto world as a builder of fully capable and luxurious vehicles that can handle any terrain.

Instead, we hear reports that the brand’s new LRX will come in front-wheel-drive.

I’ll give you Land Rover lovers a moment to sit down.

Why would the world’s foremost off-roading brand stoop to FWD?




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pennfootball - 5/11/2010 4:28:34 PM

+2 Boost

well now a soccer mommy in California can have a car like this at a better price then mortgage out her house, finance her hair and even make payments on her soy latte!

fatandsassy - 5/11/2010 4:55:16 PM

+4 Boost

What percentage of LR's do you think ever actually see a dirt road?

truckman - 5/12/2010 3:40:27 AM

+1 Boost

Sadly you are right, because of soccer moms buying suv's and demanding a smother ride and lower ride heights, that started the downward trend of capable trucks becoming cars like this, LR has been car like for a long time, except the Defender.

upwards - 5/14/2010 6:19:20 AM

+1 Boost

It's like I said before mini vans are a dying breed. When there are car based suvs with the same MPG and good driving dynamics and a way cooler exterior why not buy this?

WorldofLuxury - 5/11/2010 4:56:48 PM

+6 Boost

They should at least be embarrassed by this...

Type707 - 5/11/2010 7:19:20 PM

0 Boost

Does anyone know when the LRX will be released. I think Land Rover is improving now that FORD is totally out of the picture.

B7FAN - 5/12/2010 9:06:40 AM

+1 Boost

they need to go back with BMW so they can get a reliable powertrain

pennfootball - 5/12/2010 10:45:48 AM

+2 Boost

The power train is not what breaks its all the stuff bolted on it, the sensors, a/c, alternator, power steering pump, water pump, belts, hoses, computers and stuff...also the bushings go bad, and electronics have a few gremlins living in the machines still. Well at least they have nice leather!

iamdabest1 - 5/11/2010 10:48:41 PM

+2 Boost

i love the style of this car, but i believe all suv's should be awd. fwd should not even be offered as an option, and neither should rear.

Whelan - 5/12/2010 1:13:42 PM

+2 Boost

The only issue with that is people who live in areas where they do not encounter terrain or adverse weather. i.e. the Cali mom who never sees terrential rains or heavy snow and does not take it off-road. FWD would be the better alternative.

what kills me is the ads for these things on TV that show great prices for the 2WD models but switch to the AWD 4WD and thousands is tacked on.

The Land Rover name is not the "foremost" off-roading brand. That distinction goes to Jeep. Besides, Jeeps don't break down as often as LRs

S1000RRman - 5/13/2010 4:12:29 PM

+1 Boost

Whelan, does Jeep even exist outside the U.S.?

BondMI6 - 5/12/2010 12:16:33 AM

+1 Boost

Considering how often LR's are in the shop maybe they should rename their lineup as "nwd"........"no wheel drive."

TheDepressingTruth - 5/12/2010 4:50:58 PM

+1 Boost

This is what happens when Land Rover's New Product Development Manager turns out to be Aboo from The Simpsons

tecnopolis - 5/12/2010 11:57:48 PM

+1 Boost

This model is simply a way to add an entry level model to the lineup and bolster Corporate average fuel economy and carbon emissions ratings at the same time. Perhaps it will also add jobs in the UK.

rubenkincaid - 5/15/2010 10:26:48 PM

+1 Boost

The LRX appears to be as moribund a segment as the LR2. Front wheel drive IMHO is a step backward for Land Rover, but of course, I know nothing of their marketing plan. I'd wish that stick to the basics.

I've owned four of them over the years, as well as Volvos, Mercs, Audis, and I've never found them as much of a pain to own as reported by those who have never owned them. We've found that they're generally reliable, aside from from one disastrous Discovery, which sat alongside an equally awful E350 for an entire year.