The major auto shows are a flurry of action during the media preview days. Sometimes, there are just 30 minutes between unveilings and all of the cool concept cars hit the media scene pretty much at once. The South East Automotive Media Organization has taken a leisurely look back at the concepts that were on display this past show season and decided that the Land Rover LRX (pictured) and the Saab 9-X BioHybrid were two ABG faves that deserve to be named at the seventh annual North American Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards, announced last night. The LRX earned the Concept Truck of the Year prize and the Saab was crowned the 2008 Specialty Concept Vehicle of the Year. Other winners include the Hyundai Genesis Coupe Concept (2008 Production Preview Vehicle of the Year) and the Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept (2008 Concept Car of the Year).

See more pictures of the winners after the jump.


[Source: South East Automotive Media Organization]

Click image for a hi-res gallery of the black & silver Land Rover LRX

The Land Rover LRX, a revelation in white, was one of the stars of this year's Detroit Auto Show. The rakish SUV coupe complemented its looks and off-road capabilities with a green powertrain. For Geneva, the LRX remains equipped with a 2.0L diesel hybrid drivetrain theoretically capable of delivering 60 mpg in the EU combined cycle while emitting just 120 g/km of CO₂. Land Rover has also prepared a second LRX -- the black-and-silver one above -- to join the white one onstage. The nattily-dressed concept is there to show what a more personalized LRX would look like and to help Land Rover gauge interest in a possible production model. Two versions of the same hybrid SUV concept? We'll say this: if nothing else, Land Rover sure seems plenty interested. Good thing. So are we.


[Source: Land Rover]

Land Rover certainly didn't spare any expense when it came time to build a video screen to announce the debut of the Land Rover LRX concept SUV. For some Jeep-like reason, the organizers also thought that including fake rain and a pseudo-thunder storm was a good idea. As we wrote the other day, the LRX emits 120 grams of CO₂ per kilometer using a turbodiesel hybrid powertrain and is Land Rover's second-ever concept vehicle (and the company has been around for 60 years). As Land Rover's managing director Phil Popham says in the video above, the company likes its concepts to mean something, and the company is ready to listen to the public on opinions about the LRX. If the gallery of pictures isn't enough to make up your mind, then check out the ten-minute video for more info. When you do, you certainly won't be able to miss the huge-normous video screen behind the stage.

A Land Rover that emits 120 grams of CO₂ per kilometer? That's the promise of the LRX, the new concept SUV with a turbodiesel hybrid powertrain Land Rover unveiled yesterday at the Detroit Auto Show. Land Rover's press event made big deal of the history and future of Land Rover (with the very first Land Rover ever built sharing the state with Land Rover's second-ever concept vehicle - and this picture aptly demonstrates the message, I think), but the interesting thing is that the LRX is not exactly large. The two-door LRX does seat four, but it looks a bit cramped in the back. Perhaps it's bigger inside than it looks, but as you can see in the gallery below, the design lines compact towards the back, giving what Land Rover executives say is an aggressive stance. I care more about the environmental aspect of the LRX, and a vehicle of this size that puts out the aforementioned 120 grams is OK by me. More info in the press release after the jump, and there's a video to come.

The video above shows us an early look at the Land Rover "baby" LRX concept before it debuts at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show this month. The video includes Land Rover's design director Gerry McGovern saying the LRX "clearly conveys messages that we take sustainability seriously." The LRX is the smallest SUV Land Rover has ever made and includes an green "economy mode" which makes the car's internal lighting literally turn green. The LRX will also have a diesel/electric hybrid power train and gets 40 miles per gallon. Wow, someone give Rover a bone!

Related:

• Move over crossovers, 2008 will be the year of the Super-Mini SUV (Top 10 list included)
• Frankfurt 2007: Land Rover goes all mini
• Land Rover to show driveable hybrid prototype this year
• Study commissioned by Land Rover finds small cars are bad for the environment
• Land Rover going aluminum for next generation Range Rover
• Geneva Motor Show: Details of Land Rover's new CO2 Offset program

[Source: YouTube]