Two new crossover vehicles were recently announced: the MINI Crossman and the Land Rover LRX. Both are "soft-roaders," at home on dirt roads and snow, and little more. This service profile is similar to the Honda CR-V or Subaru Forester.
The MINI Crossman is a development of the longer wheelbase Clubman. The Crossman will have full time four wheel drive and higher ground clearance than other MINI models.
Here's a spy photo of the Crossman from Brenda Priddy and Co.
MINI will hire Austrian auto construction firm Magna Steyr to build the Crossman. BMW (the parent company of MINI) used Magna Steyr to build the first generation of the X3 SUV. The Crossman will likely have a small diesel engine as an option. The Clubman D has been announced, but not delivered so far.
The second vehicle is the Land Rover LRX. The LRX was seen in several auto shows as a concept.
Tata, the Indian company that recently purchased Land Rover from Ford, has given the green light for the production of the LRX, which may be marketed as the Freelander Sport. The Freelander will continue to be manufactured.
The Freelander has a diesel option, so it's likely that the LRX will, too. Land Rover showed a diesel hybrid version of the LRX at the Detroit Auto Show. This hybrid has a rear axle driven by an electric motor, able to provide motive power with the internal combustion engine switched off.
Both vehicles will probably appear in late 2009 as 2010 models.
Chip Haven
The MINI Crossman is a development of the longer wheelbase Clubman. The Crossman will have full time four wheel drive and higher ground clearance than other MINI models.
Here's a spy photo of the Crossman from Brenda Priddy and Co.
MINI will hire Austrian auto construction firm Magna Steyr to build the Crossman. BMW (the parent company of MINI) used Magna Steyr to build the first generation of the X3 SUV. The Crossman will likely have a small diesel engine as an option. The Clubman D has been announced, but not delivered so far.
The second vehicle is the Land Rover LRX. The LRX was seen in several auto shows as a concept.
Tata, the Indian company that recently purchased Land Rover from Ford, has given the green light for the production of the LRX, which may be marketed as the Freelander Sport. The Freelander will continue to be manufactured.
The Freelander has a diesel option, so it's likely that the LRX will, too. Land Rover showed a diesel hybrid version of the LRX at the Detroit Auto Show. This hybrid has a rear axle driven by an electric motor, able to provide motive power with the internal combustion engine switched off.
Both vehicles will probably appear in late 2009 as 2010 models.
Chip Haven