Land Rover LRX: Round Two in British Ugliness Sweepstakes

Land Rover LRX: Round Two in British Ugliness Sweepstakes

tgriffith just showed us a photo of the Audi R8, and no one could deny that’s a gorgeous car, even if the Germans don’t win many design awards. But when it comes to SUVs, our British friends just don’t seem to get it. We just saw them produce a beastly monstrosity in the new Aston Martin Lagonda. Now here they come again with the new Range Rover LRX. Click on photo to get the full impact.
As I said about the Kia Soul Sport, this thing looks like someone stepped on it. What’s the deal about squashed-down rear quarters? Is that a new styling trend, or are they trying to sell us rear-view cameras because the vision’s so bad? Jalopnik says it may come in as a five-door and “carry a taller roof line.” One would hope so.
And all those front-end styling tricks, sculpted panels and flow lines. What happened to simple, form-and-function cars? Land Rover’s design director Gerry McGovern says, “This vehicle has its own unique personality. It’s very dramatic and its very youthful.”
This is really tiresome fluff, Gerry, especially when I read the votes of confidence some folks have expressed in your company via comments on that Jalopnik post:

As a previous owner of a Land Rover, what I appreciate most about them is that you often sell them with relatively low mileage for the year. This is often due to the fact that they spend more time on a lift, than on the road, but all in all it is still a benefit.

and

As a Range Rover owner and Land Rover enthusiast I can say I expect nothing from this concept. I saw the Stormer with all it’s amazingness, and it became that anesthesia on wheels that is the RR Sport.

Share

Honda Not Giving Us Fits, but CR-Z Hybrids Instead

Honda Not Giving Us Fits, but CR-Z Hybrids Instead

Since it has gotten such lousy reviews on the new Insight, Honda apparently hopes the new CR-Z Hybrid will do better, even as it uses basically the same powertrain. The difference is that this car, like the beloved CRX before it, will appeal to the sporty set. Judging by the many positive comments on the Autoweek story, a lot of them will be tempted. Sign up for email info from Honda here.
The CR-Z Hybrid will go on sale in Japan in February 2010 and should be in the U.S. by the middle of next year. Honda seems ready to commit to an across-the-board hybrid lineup, as Toyota has. Whether that will work in this country is anybody’s guess. The Insight was the top-selling car in Japan this year (until the new Prius took over the crown), and Honda has new, better, two-engine powertrains under development for its larger models.
Let us not forget, however, that Japan has government incentives to go hybrid, as well as higher gas prices. Hybrids are going to be niche vehicles here unless either or both of those conditions change.
Honda also announced that the Fit Hybrid will become available in Japan before the end of the year; there are no plans to bring it here. This news may not send thrills and chills up your spines, CR-Z fans, though the Fit will cost lots less and may well sell better. But, my God, it’s ugly.

Share