Purists look away! Land Rover, a company defined by its four-wheel drive off-roaders, will build its first ever two-wheel drive model - the LRX - next year. The newcomer will be much smaller than anything in the current line-up and it's set to take on compact SUVs like the Nissan Qashqai and Audi Q5.

Due in 2011, the LRX will accommodate the demand for cleaner SUVs and prices will start at around £30,000. The LRX will initially be available in 4x4 form only, but the front-wheel drive variant will arrive shortly afterwards.

There will also be a revised 2.2-litre diesel engine borrowed from the Freelander, which in front-wheel drive guise should manage CO₂ emissions as low as 130g/km.

We expect to see the production version of the LRX concept at this year's Paris Motor Show.

Lee Pickering - 11 May 2010