IRVINE, CA - Land Rover plans to introduce its first front-wheel drive vehicle next year, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The compact SUV borrows from the styling of the LRX concept Land Rover showed at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Despite its compact size, the new model is to be called a Range Rover, the name Land Rover uses for its larger flagship model.

The front-drive model will be in addition to an all-wheel drive version of the sleek little SUV. The production version of the little Range Rover is expected to debut at the Paris auto show this fall.

In other attempts to boost fuel efficiency, Land Rover says it will add an eight-speed automatic transmission and diesel-electric hybrid powerplant to its vehicles.

The first diesel-electric hybrid should be on the road in 2013.

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