First Diesel hybrid SUV by Land Rover to launch by 2013

Land Rover plans to launch its first Diesel hybrid sports utility vehicle by the year 2013, the testing for which has already started on a prototype named 'range_e'. The company plans to make some significant developments for its large vehicles and hybrid technology is a part of that. The initial details on the car includes that the car would be able to achieve a 20 miles using electric power with a top speed of about 120 miles ph.

The hybrid car would be in tune with the environment as it would emit less than a 100 gm of CO2 per KM. The basic technology behind hybrid cars is the use of fuel cells (batteries) along with the conventional fuel that makes it environment friendly. The testing of the prototype 'range_e' would be completed by the end of 2010, company sources said.

In addition to the hybrid version of its SUV, the company would also launch compact variant of its SUV Range Rover in 2011 with 2-wheel drive (2WD) option, that is claimed to be the lightest and the most fuel efficient Range Over ever. The company officials were elated at the news and also added that 2WD option is one of the best ways to deliver highly efficient vehicles and to gain trust with customers.

The 2WD would be an alternative, while the 4WD technology would continue to sell with the all-terrain vehicles. In a statement it was quoted that Jaguar Land Rover is keen to invest  800 million pounds in their aim to develop environment friendly vehicles.