London prestige car hire aficionados could get a glimpse of the all new Land Rover LRX sports utility vehicle (SUV) sooner than expected.

Photographs of what is claimed to be the car being put through its paces at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany have been published by motoring websites.

The pictures show the test vehicle being driven with a body that appears to be that of the Land Rover Freelander.

However, the body, which appears to have a shortened posterior, has been disguised with duct tape-like material on the front.

This is not the first time the upcoming model has been seen on tests and its appearance on the circuit hints at the fact that its performance on asphalt could be as good as its expected off-road abilities.

When it arrives on the market, the SUV, which is expected to be unveiled in production form by June next year, will be the most environmentally-friendly car ever produced by the British manufacturer.

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