LA Auto Show: 2008 Land Rover LR2 Debuts - VIDEO ENHANCED

The All-New Land Rover LR2 Sets New Standards For Premium Compact SUV Category

(Click PLAY button below to watch the complete Land Rover LA press conference)

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 30 -- Land Rover North America today unveiled its new premium compact SUV, the Land Rover LR2, at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show. The fourth new model launched from Land Rover in just four years, LR2 joins the impressive line-up of Range Rover (2002), Land Rover LR3 (2004) and Range Rover Sport (2005) that together have seen record-breaking sales performance around the world.

New from the ground up, LR2 delivers outstanding on-road performance as well as the class-leading off-road ability of a Land Rover.

"LR2 combines the advantages of a premium sedan -- such as polished ride, accomplished performance and an attractive cabin -- with the attributes of a robust SUV," says Richard Beattie, executive vice president, marketing and sales, Land Rover North America. "With its tough go-anywhere ability, stadium seating, cabin versatility and spaciousness, we believe that no other compact SUV gets closer to blending these best-of-both-worlds abilities."

Land Rover North America today also announced U.S. pricing for its all-new SUV, the LR2. A well-equipped LR2 will be priced from $34,700.

Technical highlights of the LR2 include a brand-new 3.2-liter inline-six engine. The 230bhp* i6 engine provides 0-60 mph acceleration in 8.4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds)*. The engine is matched to a new six-speed automatic transmission, with Land Rover's CommandShift(TM) offering manual sequential gear changes and a driver-selectable sport mode, for livelier performance.

The exterior and interior design of LR2 is completely fresh, integrating the company's unique design language with a form that is instantly recognizable as the latest Land Rover.

The body is a five-door monocoque structure, with a high level of torsional rigidity which benefits refinement, comfort and handling on-road as well as ensuring the vehicle is fit for serious off-road use.

Land Rover's unique Terrain Response(TM) is standard, making off-road use easier. Other interesting technologies include a new intelligent permanent all-wheel-drive system for superior traction and better on-road fuel economy, and the patented Gradient Release Control, which improves driver confidence and control when releasing the brakes on steep and slippery slopes.

*Figures are subject to change and will be confirmed at a later date.

Land Rover North America is part of Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover with headquarters in Irvine, California. Land Rover established operations in the US in 1986, and now imports and distributes Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and LR3 vehicles manufactured by Land Rover in Solihull, England. Land Rover's worldwide operations are wholly owned by Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan. For information about the Land Rover retailer nearest you, call 800-FIND-4WD or log on to http://www.landroverusa.com/ .