So far the development of automotive hybrids has taken a few divergent paths.

There’s the fuel-economy-or-bust hybrid, best exemplified by the poster child for greenies, the Toyota Prius. From its spacey aerodynamic shape to its low-rolling-resistance tires, Prius is the hybrid for those seeking maximum fuel-economy status.

Then there’s the idea, as proposed by General Motors, that hybrid powertrains should be applied to gas-sucking everyday trucks as a way to improve overall fleet fuel economy in vehicles that a lot of people drive every day.

Finally there’s the economy-as-an-afterthought model, as presented in vehicles like the Lexus RX 400h, which puts a premium on V8-like performance from a hybrid V6. For RX 400h buyers, fuel economy runs a distant second to power and performance.
Now you can add one more piece to the hybrid puzzle: off-road capability. Ford’s Land Rover division made a big splash at the recent Geneva motor show with its Land_e, an “e-Terrain Technology Concept” vehicle intended to showcase the brand’s hybrid, biodiesel and exhaust-heat recovery systems. Taken together, Land Rover says the technologies could produce up to 30 percent better fuel economy, without sacrificing any on- or off-road performance.

“The e-Terrain technologies are practical, feasible, real-world solutions,” says Matthew Taylor, Land Rover managing director. “In every case they preserve—and in most cases improve—our breadth of capability.”Electric motors augmenting the mechanical rear drive are key to Land Rover’s hybrid strategy, but not just for the obvious, fuel-saving reason (although economy is a consideration). The company notes electrics are particularly well-suited to off-road conditions that require enhanced low-speed control and strong low-end torque.

Land Rover promises most of the Land_e technologies—and especially the hybrid-drive system—will appear on production Land Rovers as next-generation models roll out over the next few years.