Land Rover LRX spyshots

The LRX is anticipated to make it's public debut at Paris later this year, before going on sale next year - and the first spy shots of the near finished article (as opposed earlier mules) have appeared (BTW like the novel camo vinyls, which seem to be mash up of a map of Scandinavia / Russia.) So how much does the production item differ from the original concept? On the face of it, not much at all.

The first thing that strikes you is how little the fundamentals have changed: the proportions, stance and major surfaces have all made it through pretty much unscathed. How much of a 'preview' concept this was is something a only a few are privy to, but just how much of the concept's feel has been retained is a pleasant surprise - especially the stance: it remains to be seen just how big those wheels are, but at least they're in proportion (though this might be cold comfort when you see your first Kwik-fit bill...)

Image credit: Autoblog / KGP Photography

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/spy-shots-2012-land-rover-lrx/#2990175

Unfortunately the rear 3/4 shot is blurred as the LR testers made their escape, but some things can be determined. The basic proportions and arrangement of the tail is carried over, but the lip of the lower moulding is more pronounced, but this is to be expected as it will in essence function as the rear bumper. Even so, with the short overhang an awful lot of rear wheel is exposed - not much fun to follow on a wet motorway, and more exposed to damaged in the event of a crash? Thinking about it, if it's rear ended by anything with a vaguely low nose it liable to be 'submarined'.

That the concepts flush glazing and glazed C-pillar haven't made it is no surprise, but the omission of the tailgate spoiler is: maybe it will appear on certain trim levels only. Some practical furniture has of course been added: rear wiper, hatch release, fuel filler and rear reflectors. The exterior mirrors are nondescript and the door handles are very similar or the same as those already used elsewhere in the range.

Image credit Autoblog / KGP Photograph

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/spy-shots-2012-land-rover-lrx/#2990173 

As elsewhere, most of the details on the concept have made it through to production; these include the lower front quarter intakes (circled yellow.) Although taped over, it can just be discerned that the inner corner still echoes the nested faux-sump guard, and hopefully there are driving or daylight running lights are also retained - certainly the surfacing has been. The faux-sump guard and the main grille have both had extra cooling area added, and one hopes the radiator won't be so prominent in the finished version. The increase intake area has reduced the surface area between upper and lower intakes, which may well be a good thing: it has plenty of road presence - as opposed to being downright scary in the rear view mirror. (Is it me, or as is in the spyshots does it look like the CUV Darth would drive?... ;-P )

It also looks like the bonnet vents have made it through (ringed in blue), something I confess to being a little ambivalent about: wasn't a fan when they really were made of metal, and don't think they'll be improved by rendering them in chrome-effect plastic.

One area that is well disguised is the lower silhouette & lip of the headlights - hopefully the excellent solution used in the concept has been retained. The exposed wheelarch liner is also present, even down to the central 'tuft' on the axle line, circled black.

The major area of concern is the bonnet shutline - in the spyshots the panel gap looks pretty horrific, one hopes it's just a pre-production issue, but it looks like the finalised panel bar the Land Rover script. Although clam shell bonnets are currently in vogue - thanks to pedestrian safety regs. - Land Rover are old hands at this (the original Range Rover was 40 years ago) so it's hardly likely to be unfamiliarity. They may be trying emulate a solution employed on the original Audi TT: making the bonnet shutline dominant with a light catching surface above, making the eye read the nose as being lower than it is. Whilst this clever solution was needed on the TT to add a little tension, the LRX already has a well defined stance as is. 


Behind the front wheel

As with the concept - and current Freelander - 

The other area of concern is the sill area