Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) confirmed yesterday that the LRX concept shown at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show will go into production and debut for the 2011 model year as part of the Range Rover series.

We showed you spy photos of an 2011 Range Rover LRX mule last week, though it was difficult to make out the new vehicle's lines since it was camouflaged in truncated LR2 body panels. The production LRX will be a two-door like the concept vehicle.

The proportions were likely pretty close, though, as the Range Rover LRX will be the smallest Land Rover in the lineup. It's 5.9 inches shorter nose to tail than the current LR2 and stands 8.1 inches shorter. As such, it simply won't have the ground clearance for off-roading. Still, it will have Land Rover's Terrain Response system, though an Eco driving mode will be added.

Land Rover will build the LRX at its Halewood, UK plant, which is good news for British workers. About 800 additional workers will be needed, and that should mean no jobs will be lost when JLR closes either its Castle Bromwich (Jaguar) or Solihull (Land Rover) works in 2010.

Inside Line News: Range Rover LRX Going Into Production for 2011

The Guardian