Another awesome concept, this time from Fords crown jewel, Land Rover. 

Revealed: Land Rover LRX concept

Land Rover may currently be the subject of a 'buy one, get one free' deal with Jaguar, but that hasn't prevented the company from developing a stunning new concept to celebrate its 60th birthday in 2008.

The LRX, to be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show next month, is what Land Rover terms a cross-coupé and, as a three-door, is some six inches shorter than the Freelander 2, leading to speculation that any production version would be based on a Ford Focus platform.

However, don't think that this means Land Rover has gone all 'soft-roader' on us as the LRX is equipped with permanent four-wheel-drive and Hill Descent Control. In addition the car also receives a revised version of Land Rover's Terrain Response system, which, like that debuted in the Land_e_concept, features an 'eco' mode for town driving. Further evidence that Land Rover accepts that its cars are now largely posing pouches is the following from design director Gerry McGovern: "It's a Land Rover that would be comfortable on Bond Street or Fifth Avenue, but wouldn't flinch at getting its wheels dirty."

Further technology from the e_concept is also promised, most likely an electric motor in line with the rear axle which can propel the LRX around town and a stop-start system, both of which will feature in the Freelander in the near future. The green theme continues inside the cabin with vegetable-tanned leather, lightweight, recyclable aluminium and a mock-suede material that is made from recycled plastic. Further weight saving is provided by the use of polycarbonate rather than glass for the side windows and glazed roof. The dash features innovative 'floating' LCD graphics to create a 3-D look with information brought to the fore or pushed into the background depending on its relevance.

Interior lighting also varies depending on the driving mode engaged - blue as standard with, appropriately, green for eco and red for sport. Sportiness seems to be a recurring theme in the way Land Rover refers to the LRX, even in reference to the sloped centre console, which features that most currently de rigueur option, an iPhone dock. The traditional Land Rover horizontally split rear tailgate makes a welcome return with an iPod dock, speakers, bottle chiller and cupholders between two padded seating areas. A bit more Glastonbury that point-to-point we feel.

Traditional Land Rover design themes are also given a modern makeover in the exterior design of the LRX. The traditional clamshell bonnet, floating roof design with its blacked out pillars and bluff front with barred grille all feature but have also been touched up with the 'sportiness' brush. The roof tapers towards the rear of the car and a rising swage line is accentuated by the strong 'shoulder' running the length of the car while huge wheelarches house distinctly off-road unfriendly 20-inch alloy wheels.