Has Land Rover Betrayed It's Roots With FWD And Hybrid Models?

Hey, Niner: You're slipping back into your old ways of wording your subjects so as to incite flame wars. May I suggest just sticking with the facts, and leaving editorialization out.

I, for one, miss the days when Autospies was heavy on information, and lacking jabs and flaming.

I agree this is Jaguar & Land Rovers problem they make very competitive cars but they have such a bad name for reliability they are more emotional purchases than anything else. A Land Rover Hybrid sounds scary they cant their electronics right an electric motor attached to the engine ill stay clear of that lol....This LRX looks nice though only thing I dont like is it appears the new Explorer is taking some Land Rover styling cues which ultimately make the LRX and Explorer look alike in some ways.

Most people buying Land- and Range Rovers don't take them off-road. They're pure status symbols.

For people who know they'll never take them off-road, the FWD version will be cheaper and a bit better on gas. Those that occasionally do take them off-road can purchase the AWD version if they desire...

"Has Land Rover Betrayed It's Roots With FWD And Hybrid Models?"

Yes. Sad day they might also start making Sedans and coupes. But future hybrid models would be okay.

Willis

IMO people take them offroad or not is not the concern but they should stick to their core values(or advertisements) and only offer SUVs which are FOUR wheel drive. By offering FWD SUVs which surely will be useless offroad is like Ferrari making sedans or Rolls Royce making a small car and going under V12 engine. I am sure by doing this Ferrari and Rolls Royce would get plenty of buyers but they just shouldn't do it.
Same case with Jaguar, Maserati, Lamborghini...etc these companies should not make SUVs and probably they never will.

JUGNU

Well Said Jugnu

As an LR owner I think this is a dumb idea and dilutes the branch. Mine sees all types of terrain, from intense New England snow storms to ruddy and muddy mountain trails and most recently, sand dunes (took a trip to the outer banks in North Carolina, that was an awesome experience).

brand not branch

LR is not betraying its roots. If anything they are bringing models like this to market so that they can preserve their roots. With onerous fuel standards taking effect very soon, Land Rover has to offer smaller, more efficient models if it wants to continue producing the large, all-terrain luxury vehicls it makes right now. You should view this as LR's committment to keeping its heritage alive as it figures out how to deal with new very stringent fuel standards.

JUGNU

Too late, Lamborghini has already shipped a SUV in production, the Lamborghini LM002. Lamborghini has generated a few SUV prototypes since then and seems to be just waiting on the right business opportunity to jump in again.

NO is the simple answer to a VERY stupid question.