Land Rover readies 4x4 eco-drive

It looks like Land Rover is turning over a new leaf! The 4x4 maker has acknowledged it needs to do more to make its range greener – and now the firm has put its money where its muddy mouth is.

The company has committed £700million investment over the next five years towards environmental technology for its cars. And the transformation could be in full swing as soon as the end of 2008. That’s when an emissions-busting stop-start system will be fitted to diesel Freelanders, before rolling out across the rest of the range.

This set-up alone, which switches off the motor whenever the vehicle is stationary, will slash the TD4’s CO2 emissions from 194g/km to 179g/km. By 2010, Land Rover hopes to have its more complicated Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) hybrid system, dubbed e-terrain, on sale in its largest models – possibly mated to the V6 diesel. e-terrain allows the vehicle to move off without starting the engine, running purely on the batteries, and supplies extra muscle over rough surfaces.

But that’s not all! There are also plans to reduce the size and weight of Land Rover’s products, and concentrate on better aerodynamics. This could pave the way for the stunning LRX concept – with its small footprint and slippery silhouette – to make it into full production sooner than anticipated.