THE TATA XJR?

Consider it a safe assumption that you'll never see an XJR, XK, or XF rebadged as a Tata. Reports are also pushing speculation into safe assumptions that Tata is about to land Jaguar and Land Rover for $2,000,000,000, however.

Time the purchase of Ford Motor Company's remaining British outposts with the debut of a $2,500 People's Car, too. Then again, the Tata Group also owns hotels with rates as high as $2,795 per night in Mumbai, charter planes for Bollywood stars, and high-end jewellery stores, in addition to Tetley Tea, Tata AIG Life, Tata Cummins, and Tata McGraw Hill. Head honcho Ratan Tata says that when a company is bought by the Tata Group, things remain the same, "except now it's owned by someone in India".

If Tata truly is successful in this purchase, we should hear by the end of 2007. Another Indian company, Mahindra & Mahindra, was a bidder for Jaguar, along with One Equity Partners.

For Jaguar bosses, the worst part of the news is the extra 1,000 miles in their commute to company headquarters. India is a lot farther away than Michigan.

LAND ROVER LRX

More info will surely flow regarding Land Rover's latest hot concept over the next few weeks and after it's Detroit debut. Enjoying the photos of the British sport-utility builder's most impressive debut since the Range Stormer can be done.... now.

I love ambivalent statements from automaker managing directors that speak of topics like "proposed level of efficiency that would make it one of the cleanest vehicles in its class". Wait... no, I don't.

Truly though, the LRX is smaller (therefore lighter), and more aerodynamic. Less weight and slipperier surfaces remove the necessity of massively powerful and massively thirsty engines. Less thirst equals less harmful emissions. Do people want a smaller-than Freelander/LR2 luxury ute?

If the Land Rover LRX is ever produced; and it is marketed as a 'green' vehicle with more than just 'green' ideology but some semi-useful 'green' tech - then yes, people will want it.

LAND ROVER'S CERAMICS MAJOR

Today, GoodCarBadCar was about to show you a Land Rover Range Rover Sport underneath Tokyo. Then, I came upon this and thought the commercial made its point so very clear that it must be shown.

BEST WINTER CARS PART II

BusinessWeek's automotive section recently showcased winter's best automobiles. Along with the vehicles brandished ↓ and in Part I, BusinessWeek provided some interesting statistics.


SUBARU OUTBACK: BW says: "The Outback has as much ground clearance as the taller Tribeca SUV (which is based on the same platform), and like all Subarus, the Outback has permanent all-wheel drive as standard equipment." TGCG says: "The Outback is an obvious choice and obviously good."


VOLVO XC70: BW says: "Ground clearance is almost three inches higher than the V70 wagon, and only a fraction of an inch less than the more imposing Volvo XC90 SUV." TGCG says: "The previous XC70 was the most comfortable vehicle I've ever spent a weekend in, a weekend with snow and sun. I expect nothing less from the new Cross Country."

AUDI A6 AVANT: BW says: "Besides Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the A6 Avant has headlight washers. Standard equipment includes heated front seats and heated exterior mirrors. A cold-weather package of options ($600) includes heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a removable ski sack to keep melted snow from dripping in the rear cargo area." TGCG says: "Much as I love the headlight washers, I stick to the imposing appearance and impressive capabilities as reasons for making wintry use of an A6 wagon."

TOYOTA SIENNA: BW says: "The Sienna is rare among minivans in that it has all-wheel drive in its highest trim and equipment levels." TGCG says: "You and your's and their's and their stuff will fit comfortably and possibly unaware of the peril outside."

HONDA RIDGELINE: BW says: "The oddly styled Honda Ridgeline gets good marks for off-road performance in slippery conditions, with a driver-friendly combination of all-wheel drive, traction control, antilock brakes, stability control, and a five-speed automatic transmission that helps take care of most slippery situations automatically." TGCG says: "It may look funny, but the Ridgeline is capability personified."

TOYOTA FJ CRUISER: BW says: "Toyota says the FJ Cruiser is the most capable off-road SUV in the Toyota lineup." TGCG says: "That lineup is freakin' full of SUV's, too. Put a plow on the front and take care of every driveway in the neighbourhood. So cool."

HUMMER H2: BW says: "Features aimed more specifically at Old Man Winter include heated front and rear seats, heated outside mirrors, and remote starting." TGCG says: "Read my review."

RANGE ROVER: BW says: "With a single knob, the driver can select one of five modes, depending on the road (or off-road) surface: general, for everyday pavement; grass/gravel/snow, for slippery conditions; sand; mud and ruts; and "rock crawl." The system governs throttle response, automatic transmission operation, electronic differentials, antilock brakes, the air suspension, traction control, and hill descent control." TGCG says: "It may be the world's most impressive all-around vehicle... the Queen seems to think so."

SATURN VUE: BW says: "The front-drive version, with a four-cylinder engine sitting over the driving wheels, probably provides enough winter traction for most people, coupled with antilock brakes, traction control, and electronic stability control, all standard—plus winter tires, which cost extra." TGCG says: "The Vue is almost cool now, but not if the badge lacks the V6 and AWD alphanumerics."

TOYOTA TUNDRA: BW says: "Something called the Tundra better be able to go (and stop) in the snow, and with optional all-wheel drive this pickup certainly has the right equipment, subject to proper tires." TGCG says: "The Tundra is fast, and will accelerate almost as quickly in slippery conditions when badged 4x4. But be careful, you've many thousands of pounds to slow down."

VOLVO XC60 GROUND CLEARANCE DOESN'T HURT?

In its first drive/review of the Volvo XC60, a soon-coming competitor for the BMW X3, Land Rover LR2, Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLK, and Infiniti EX35, Motor Trend surprised me with the following statements (read the whole piece here):

"Canyon-carving sessions are surprisingly rewarding given Volvo's priority on safety...... Clearly its engineers took a different tack with the XC60 and gave on-road performance a high position on the agenda...... the XC60 doesn't feel tall or unstable. Credit its firm and responsive MacPherson-strut front and multilink rear suspension that minimizes body roll through corners...... Volvo's traction and stability-control systems (DTSC, RSC) don't kill the fun too quickly...."

Why is this so surprising? Does The Good Car Guy, an admitted Volvo fan, not believe Volvo to be capable of turning a compact SUV into a bit of a dynamic dynamo? No, no, no. See, Motor Trend also brought to my attention another aspect of the XC60 - it's height. The XC60 T6 AWD possesses 9.1 inches of ground clearance. Height off the ground inherently produces tipsy-topsy vehicles, and the 4000+ pound Volvo with that much ground clearance led me to believe that this, of all Volvos, would be the softy in the corners. For context, have a look at competitor clearance below.

-----

Volvo XC60: 9.0 inches

Mercedes-Benz GLK350: 7.9 inches

Audi Q5: 7.87 inches

BMW X3: 8.0 inches

Infiniti EX35: 5.4 inches

Land Rover LR2: 8.3 inches

Volvo XC90: 8.6 inches

HOW CONSUMER REPORTS RELIABILITY RANKINGS RELATE TO GCBC AWARDS

Late last year and in early 2008, The Good Car Guy handed out twenty awards. Well, let's be honest: eight of them were shameful awards. The Good 12 and The Bad 8  place significance on vehicles that can be purchased by people you and I know - no Ferraris, Lamborghinis, or Bentleys. Of the hundreds and hundreds of different models available to the North American consumer, The Good 12 tells you which you should buy if at all possible in 2008 and The Bad 8 makes very clear which cars you should not buy if at all avoidable.

Of course, those vehicles are in the running for 2009's Good 12 and Bad 8. If they're still the best, they ought to be recognized that way. But before that comes, it appears that Consumer Reports has released its reliability rankings, pieces of news in which many consumers (how ironic) place a great amount of trust.

So, how do those rankings compare with The Good 12 and The Bad 8? Have a look below.

-----

Small Cars: Consumer Reports says the Scion xD and Mini Cooper Clubman are at or near the top while the Nissan Versa sedan is the worst. The Good 12 holds fast on the regular Mini Cooper while the Versa sedan resides in The Bad 8.

Family Cars: Consumer Reports puts the Toyota Prius and Kia Optima at or near the top with the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger platform-mates at the bottom. GoodCarBadCar.net is silent on the topic.

Sporty, Coupes, & Convertibles: Consumer Reports places the Lexus SC430 and Volco C30 at the top with the Chrysler Sebring convertible and Saturn Sky at the bottom. The Bad 8 has both the Sebring and Lexus SC in its grasp.

Luxury Cars: Infiniti's M35 and Lexus IS250 are CR's most reliable; the V8-powered Cadillac STS and V8-powered Mercedes-Benz E-Class are at the bottom. GoodCarBadCar.net speaks neither well or ill of all four.

Minivans/Wagons: The Toyota Matrix and Scion xB are the best of the bunch in CR's rankings, the Chrysler twins (Town & Country, Grand Caravan) are the worst. GoodCarBadCar.net is silent.

In the SUV/truck arena, the Toyota Tundra; Honda Ridgeline; Toyota Sequoia; Honda Pilot; Lexus RX400h; Honda Element, and Toyota FJ Cruiser are all leaders of their respective packs. Conversely, the Ford F-250; Land Rover LR2; Saturn Vue in V6 all-wheel drive form; Land Rover Range Rover; Volkswagen Touareg; V8-powered and diesel-fired Mercedes-Benz GL-Class; and the Dodge Dakota 4x4 are all unreliable by Consumer Reports' standards.

One more thing: Consumer Reports also said the Honda Fit; smart fortwo; and Infiniti G35 are "also very reliable". Those cars are in The Good 12.

FLASHY NEW CAR SITES

It's been quite a while since GoodCarBadCar rated the best super-luxury automotive websites. Lamborghini came out on top of the eleven-company comparison. If you were to cut away some of the cost found inside those websites cars but keep the cool web features; you might arrive at the sites found below.

Check out these two GM sites: the new Malibu at www.chevrolet.com/malibu and Vauxhall's VXR site at www.vauxhall.co.uk.

Considering the market BMW is attacking with the Mini, www.miniusa.com better have a good site. Fiat wants to cater to the same folks who'll spend slightly higher dollar figures on slightly smaller cars. So, www.Fiat500.com is pretty awesome, especially the configurator/build section.

Suffer through the slow load times and you'll be impressed by www.honda.co.uk/car. Finally, LandRoverusa.com has some Extraordinary Experiences. Watch the Range Rover Sport in Tokyo.

TOP 5 MOST LEASED VEHICLES IN AMERICA

In order to better understand the current state of affairs in the automotive leasing domain, check this morning's earlier post from GoodCarBadCar.net. If you want to know, and of course you do want to know, which vehicles are leased the most often this year in America, keep reading.

-----

#10 - Jaguar XJ: 65.8% of customers leased

#9 - BMW X3: 67.3% of customers leased

#8 - Audi A4: 68% of customers leased

#7 - BMW 6-Series: 68.6% of customers leased

#6 - Land Rover Range Rover: 69.6% of customers leased

#5 - Mercedes-Benz E-Class: 70% 

The E-Class has a base price of $52,775 for a powerful V6 with a 7-speed automatic. With similar financial scenarios, a 36-month lease would save you close to $100 per month compared with a 60-month purchase.

#4 - BMW Z4: 70.7% 

Achieving close to 30mpg in a BMW roadster ain't shabby. This $36,700 car was a styling controversy when introduced but, says BMW, can be leased for $379 a month over 36 months.

#3 - Audi A6: 74.1% 

Priced at $42,950, the A6 sedan is a capable beauty that performs in most categories at or near the top of the class. That doesn't mean it sells with the worldwide force of the E-Class or BMW 5-Series, but Audi is a successful company, thanks in no small part to the A6.

#2 - Saab 9-7X: 82.2%

As AutoEnergy put it, the 9-7X is about as Scandinavian as apple pie and ice cream. Think American at its core. GMC and Chevrolet will sell you less luxurious-but-otherwise-identical vehicles in their showrooms, but if you insist.... the 9-7X starts at $41,145. Presently, it's possible that leasing a 9-7X would cost you more because of heavy incentives on the purchasing side. 

#1 - BMW 7-Series: 85.3% 

If you can find $1009 every month for the next 36 months, BMW wants to put you in a "well-equipped" (read: basic) 7-Series. That nets you the strange iDrive system, a wild V8, and abundant luxury features. Only 15% of 7-Series customers take it any other way.

Land Rover LR3 Driven

Priced a handsome $40,000 less than its stablemate, the Range Rover, Land Rover's LR3 impresses right off with it's heritage. This is the maker that brought the Defender and the aforementioned Range to market; not to mention the Discovery, which has been superseded by the LR3. A heritage of what, you ask? Off-roading, my friend. No silly soft-roaders these, not cute-utes, not simply made for climbing a curb in the urban jungle, but to take you and your's through the Sahara and down the shores of the Amazon. Since it's a Land Rover, you can count on at least some measure of tough-terrain alacrity. And with the LR3, Land Rover has made a vehicle with off-road skills and limits far greater than the skills you will drive it with and limits you will drive it to.



But what's this? A Landie that copes with a twisting road? It can't be. Well, the Range Rover and Freelander started the trend, the LR3 continues it, and the Range Rover Sport takes it to a whole 'nuther level. Not an out-and-out sporty SUV a la Infiniti FX, BMW X5, and Porsche Cayenne, but simply capable on road, something that was not frequently said of the previous Discovery, with its odd wheelbase/track width/height proportions. I was surprised at how little body roll there was in the LR3, but far more impressed with the high-speed stability. It's easy to think you're putting along, when you're actually flying.

This Land Rover has good on-road manners, the hefty weight is felt; but controlled and managed. I wouldn't really need a whole lot more power, a request for more but not a demand. The LR3 is not slow. The 4.4L works smoothly and somewhat quietly. There's a good firm brake pedal and weighty steering that is naturally not feelsome. Moving inside, you'll feel quality switches, like the control stalks and rubberized volume button. The only interior part that doesn't support this claim is the shifter gate, which is nonetheless modern. Even the blinker noise sounds exactly as you would expect in a Land Rover.

They've thought of everything, much of which I don't have room to tell you, suffice to say that the key fob can survive under water, the two-peice tailgate curves to allow you to reach in, and well.... every piece of metal and plastic was first considered, then produced.

Perhaps the niftiest feature in the LR3 is the Terrain Response system . Select your mode of driving from five options: on-road, snow, mud, sand or rocks, and the TR will calibrate the differentials, throttle mapping, and any other electronic doo-dad to the optimal setting. Land Rover has done extensive testing so that the thresholds for each setting will keep you safe and secure. Even if you don't do any serious rock-crawling, Land Rover has still set up the vehicle to be the safest and most capable it can be when you select your type of road. And it's easy; just turn the knob, no computers to sort through at all. That being the case, the only thing I adjusted in my light-duty off-roading was the adjustable ride height feature of the air suspension, which allowed me more leeway when traversing a particularly large dip near the indoor soccer field on the Mainland Commons.

I've heard it said that the LR3 doesn't offer the upscale luxury ambience the Range Rover does. Considering the price gap, I wonder what people expect. The cheaper brother does well. There are two fixed glass roof sections for the rearmost rows, and a normal sunroof for those in the front. Seating is stadium style as you move to the rear, allowing both the second row and third a better view. Optionally, a navigation system allows you to find your way back off-road when there are no maps by leaving Hansel and Grettle-like droppings along your route. (Land Rover calls them waypoints.) A stereo system by harmon kardon is specially tuned to the acoustics in the Land Rover. From 9 to 13 speakers, 240 to 550 watts, a 6-CD changer and input capability for your iPod, this is indeed specially tuned. Naturally there's power everything and lots of leather, and if you're used to a Discovery, you'll like the space in the LR3.


In the end, how do I characterize the LR3? (See important link here)Well, it's far more than an off-roader, and with its boxy industrial look it carries on well from the Disco, with a 300 bhp V8 it moves along alright, and it handles pretty much any road you throw at it with poise. But whereas the Discovery, often due to faults, had such character; and where the Range Rover has such character because of its position atop the SUV elite, the Land Rover LR3 stands out for another reason. Yes, it is a Land Rover through and through, but it is the all around competence that characterizes the vehicle and thus wins me over. (I SAID, see important link here)

RECALL TRIO - Mercedes, Toyota, Land Rover

Over 57,000 Mercedes-Benz SUVs (GL-class and ML-class) may suffer from poor trailer hitch design. Weld seams that connect the flex-n-gate hitch receiver to the attachment bar don't meet the specification standars. You do the math: tow a trailer with poor welds in the hitch? A separation may occur. NHTSA insists that nobody with hitches/vehicles involved (2006-2008) do any towing until their Benz's are repaired.

NHTSA says an expected 37,142 Land Rover LR3s and Range Rover Sports have airbag circuitry issues because of motion behind the steering wheel hub. These 2005 & 2006 Land Rovers need a 1mm spacer placed, says NHTSA, "between the lower left hand side of the column switch mounting point and the column lock to improve the alignment of the column switch. Two foam pads will also be fitted to the top of the steering column switch gear to provide assured clearance between the cowl and the clockspring face." Whatever: it needs to be fixed or you'll be ignoring an SRS warning light and driving a vehicle that's not quite as safe in case of an accident as it could (and should) be.

196,222 Toyota minivans may suffer from premature wear of the rear liftgates struts that could, as you'd assume, eventually lead to an inability of those struts to support the liftgate. In case you haven't figured it out, the liftgate would fall on your head; or worse, the head of your child. This only affects Toyota's Sienna when it's equipped with the power liftgate from 2004-2006 model years. The initial drop would be 10 inches, followed by an immediate closure under the power system. If you're noticing that the power rear hatch of your Sienna is moving slower than before, take it as a sign. That likely means its gas struts aren't far from performing the drop. Apparently, Toyota is not legally obliged to cover the costs of this safety improvement campaign, but will do so anyway. Recognition deserved.

TOP 5 SLOW SUV SELLERS by NUMBERS

With the advent of the Ford Explorer, sport-utility vehicles became everyday family transportation. Sure, others had come before. Jeep, Land Rover, and GMC were already in existence as purveyors of trucks and SUVs only. Others, including Ford, sold some form of a closed-in truck. But the Explorer made the sector. SUVs have been compared and contrasted with it ever since, regardless of its competitiveness. 

However, the strength of the American SUV market is meeting its match on two fronts: fuel prices and environmental social conscience. During the first three months of 2008, sport-ute sales have tumbled. Oh sure, the totals are still huge, but the percentage drops are frightening for those companies that pay their workers (and CEO bonuses) with the profits from large SUVs. 

He who argues that hundreds of thousands of SUVs sold so far this year indicates stability is likely the same person who thinks the lowering casualties in Iraq means the still populous middle-aged Iraqi male population isn't exposed to dangerous circumstances. Here are a handful of SUVs facing quickly fading sales. And yeah... I know this is more of a Bottom 5 than a Top 5. Live with it.

-----

#5 - TOYOTA FJ CRUISER: -38.5%
A relatively low base price and eye-catching angles can't propel this unique Toyota over the persisting trend. The FJ Cruiser's brick-like shape doesn't aid fuel thriftiness, with a city mpg number of just 15. Ouch. During January, February, and March, the FJ still posted better sales figures than any of the other members on this list.

#4 - JEEP COMMANDER: - 42.9%

This does NOT go to show that the profiency of cylinder shutdown systems is lacking. The Jeep's fuel economy isn't good. The cylinder shutoff can't overcome that. Nonetheless, one would assume that a 30mpg Commander would struggle to sell. It's ugly and discontinued.

#3 - MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER: -44.1%

Although the Outlander's drop isn't as severe as the Kia already mentioned, the 44% fall compared with last year's first quarter does put the Mitsu's sales total lower than the Kia's. Mitsubishi can't rightly blame the small SUV market share free-fall. The percentage drop for the Outlander is 15 points worse than the sector it competes in.

#2- KIA SORENTO: -54.2%

The Sorento sits on an ageing platform and performs with LR3-like mileage. Nail. Coffin.

#1 - LAND ROVER LR3: -62.7%

Though the Land Rover's drop only equals a couple thousands fewer units sold over three months, this puts the LR3 on pace for just 5,208 sales over the course of the year. Even the six-cylinder LR3's mileage is shameful; just 16mpg in the city. The Good Car Guy's drive of the LR3 revealed a terrific vehicle, but with quality problems, poor fuel mileage, and an expensive base MSRP. This Land Rover is in for a rough ride.

ACROSS THE POND SALES STATS

The GoodCarBadCar Numbers typically lets you in on North American sales statistics or interesting figures relative to a car or manufacturer. Today, these Numbers from Across The Pond - or ponds - are simply an amalgam of facts from abroad that may surprise you.

-----

22,000 - sales of the Land Rover Range Rover Sport in Russia during the 2007 calendar year

17,600 - approximate sales of the supercharged version of the LR Range Rover Sport out of the total 22K

35,000,000 - total gallons of fuel saved by the 700,000 BMWs which will be sold in Europe this year with Efficient Dynamics, BMW's system of engine stop-starting and regenerative braking

24,897 - total Porsche sales outside of Germany & North America in the first half of its current fiscal year, a figure that's up 30%

17,000,000 - total cost, in euros, of Porsche's new offices and dealership in Moscow

52,862 - total new Honda sales in China in March, a figure that's 72% higher than March of 2007

16 - percentage increase in SUV sales for the first quarter of the year in Australia

9206 - total new Ford sales in Australia in March of this year, less than half of Toyota's numbers and a couple thousand behind Holden, GM's Aussie outpost

16 - total sales of Rolls-Royces by Abu Dhabi Motors, BMW's importer in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, in September of 2007

890 - square metres of showroom space for Abu Dhabi Motors' new Rolls-Royce showroom in Umm Al Nar to be opened in 2010

LAND OF OWNERSHIP: BRITISH BADGES

Brits still tighten the lugnuts and stitch the leather. The pride is still resident in the United Kingdom. In some ways, so much has changed. Viewed another way, the story hasn't been altered.

Lotus. Aston Martin. Bentley. Rolls-Royce. Rover. Jaguar. Land Rover. These are the most prominent automotive badges that Britain exports in 2008. In most cases, "export" is even the proper terms, as mentioned in line one of this post. The difference now is simply the Indian influence that wasn't present previously.

Interestingly, the new owner of Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata Motors, held some sway in Britain before. Rover sold its own version of the Tata Indica. Rover and Land Rover are terribly separate now, but use of the term ironic is awfully appropriate.

Rover's pieces are in Chinese hands. Of course, it was British at its beginning and the rights to its name are now in Tata's hands. Yes, it strikes as obvious that a country that was once in British hands now holds not just one, but three of the UK's most famous automotive fixtures. Even Honda (Japan) once held some measure of control over Rover, long before Germany's BMW had complete control and botched the whole shebang. 

Asia and Germany are in quite the battle to dominate the British brand marketplace, come to think of it. Lotus is a member of Proton's little empire. That'd be Proton, the Malaysian manufacturer of the Satria, which has been showcased here on GoodCarBadCar. Land Rover and Jaguar were bought for a tidy sum by a massive Indian conglomerate. Rolls-Royce and Bentley were caught in the midst of a humourous German battle. BMW owns the former (as well as Mini); Volkswagen the latter. Oh, and don't forget that Aston Martin is heavily backed by a group of Kuwaiti investors. 

Where does that leave American involvement? After Ford Motor Company's recent dismissal of Jaguar and Land Rover and last year's dropping of Aston Martin, major American shareholding is considered a thing of the past with equally large British motor companies. General Motors and Lotus? Nope. Not anymore. 

$2.7B + $2.5B = $2.3B? FORD SELLS UP

It's official....aly depressing for Ford's accountants. Tata, a gigantic Indian industrial conglomerate, has purchased two historic and evocative British automotive brands from Ford Motor Company.

Ford paid $2,500,000,000 for Jaguar back in 1989. Ford paid $2,700,000,000 for Land Rover in 2000. With an approximate inflation adjustment, Ford's $2.5B into Jaguar works out to around $4.3B now, and the $2.7B it cost Ford to snag Land Rover from BMW works out to about $3.3B now. Ish.

See previous posts on the matter here

So if you want to make Ford look really, really, really bad, figure the math like this: Ford paid $7,600,000,000 for Jaguar and Land Rover and sold the two as a set for $2,300,000,000. Ford's beancounters say, "Umph!" Ratan Tata says, "Result."

Ford is even going to contribute $600,000,000 to employee pension funds. Thankfully, Tata is leaning towards maintaining the current workforce level in the UK of 15,300 workers. 

As of 9:17am EST, Ford's "Global Sites" still included Jaguar and Land Rover. Who knows, they could be there for a while. Awkward. 

LAND ROVER LRX IN MOTION

Is the Land Rover LRX (previously seen here) the future of sport-utility vehicles?  If emission restrictions and fuel economy standards continue to grow tougher and tougher; if the societal conscience continues to garner more members of society against the sport-ute; and if - at some point - sales begin to trend more strongly away from SUVs and crossovers, will all former SUV buyers flock to station wagons and small MPVs?

I believe not.  Sport-utility vehicles are perfect candidates for a weight loss competition.  There's no use betting against the use of engine technology in sport-utes.  So, why can't the future of SUVs be seen in the same fashion as the future of cars?  

Smaller.  Lighter.  More efficient.  

Land Rover, an SUV-only brand, builds highly desirable vehicles.  It appears as though luxury SUV buyers care not one whit about fuel prices or lowering emissions, at least judging by Land Rover's sales. Nevertheless, forethought never hurts.  And with forethought, Land Rover came up with the LRX.  Read about it here. Watch it below.