Did you know that Land Rover is looking at bringing out a front-wheel-drive version of the forthcoming 2012 LRX crossover? That brings a smile on everyone’s face as it is something new in the history of the maker of the rugged go-anywhere SUVs. This will be the first ever FWD in the company’s history! An all-wheel-drive LRX will still be the main Land Rover product, though. The 2012 Land Rover LRX is all set to debut at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.

Our friends at Indian Cars Bikes say that Land Rover is bringing in the automobile to offer a more fuel-efficient product, a sign of the times. They have a lot to say about the car, and here’s what they say. The small LRX is a reasonable candidate for the FWD offering in the car maker’s lineup. We had first seen the concept version of the LRX at the Detroit Auto Show two years ago as a hybrid biodiesel-powered “cross-coupe.” The four-wheel-drive LRX will be out first and the FWD version will follow with a new name. The Range Rover Compact is the most likely one, at least that’s what Autocar in the UK says. The LRX was born as a 2.0 Litre Turbo Diesel hybrid with Bio diesel capability and the compact will also come with the same, being the LRX’s FWD twin.

Jaguar Land Rover says that the LRX will deliver fuel economy of 21 kmpl, thus making it the most economical vehicle in its class. With the compact, don’t you think the LRX can rise? It obviously will. An electric version is also on the cards and is likely to see a launch by 2013. Just another wild thought; imagine all cars in India to be carrying the all drive version. What would the condition of the roads be with cars from Maruti Suzuki, Honda, Ford and all other manufacturers in all wheel drive?

Why do you think JLR has come up with the FWD idea? Will it be profitable for the car maker? The vehicle is mostly bought by the hunting enthusiasts who go fox or deer hunting in the woods. The buyers are the city men with fat salaries, the office goers, or the celebrated soccer moms. All these people are sure going to love buying a Land Rover that will cost less than the AWD version and extract the 21 kmpl mileage out of the vehicle. All this can be done while still retaining the class tag that they drive a Land Rover!

The front-wheel-drive variant of the LRX crossover will allow JLR to once again make a signature range out of the Range Rover. The new car will of course retain its stately personality while transferring the soccer mommies and the so-called eco-friendly Lexus-driving office goers’ choice to the Compact LRX. Well, it is a departure from the heritage of AWD for the car maker, but this as a marketing strategy is something that will hopefully blaze for JLR and make the Range Rover an outdoorsy palace.