Land Rover LRX Mule Spied Winter Testing

Our spies have caught a Land Rover LRX prototype undergoing winter testing in Scandinavia.

Still wearing a Freelander 2 (aka LR2) body, the mule sports a shortened wheelbase which is clearly visible as several inches have been hacked off the rear end. While it's not much to look at, Land Rover's design director, Gerry McGovern, has previously stated "The new vehicle (the LRX) 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 recognizable Range Rover design cues including the signature clamshell bonnet, the floating roof and the solid 'wheel-at-each-corner' stance."

Engine options will likely be a 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel (with 160hp and 400 Nm of torque) and a 3.2-liter petrol inline six (with 230 hp and 317 Nm of torque). Eventually, a hybridized 2.0-liter turbodiesel may also be offered - it was previewed in the LRX Hybrid concept).

The production ready LRX will be unveiled later this year, with a global launch scheduled for 2011.