On sale in 2011, the 2WD vehicle will emit less than 130g/km of CO2 – making it the lightest, most fuel efficient Range Rover ever.

However, the company added that it remains committed to its 4WD vehicles too.

Phil Popham, Land Rover managing director, said: 'A 2WD option is just one way in which we are developing our vehicles efficiency whilst adding to the Land Rover range and expanding our customer base. We will continue to make the "world's finest all-terrain vehicles" for those customers who require 4WD but will also now offer an alternative to those that don't.'

The move forms part of a number of ways in which Land Rover is looking to improve vehicle efficiency, including the use of hybrid technology on large vehicles in the range. Later this year, the carmaker says it will be testing the first diesel hybrid prototype called the "range_e". This is being developed using a Range Rover Sport platform, with early tests using the existing 3.0-litre TDV6 diesel engine featuring a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. The firm says its goal is to achieve a range of 20 miles using electric power only emitting less than 100g/km of CO2 emissions and to achieve a top speed of around 120mph.