"It’s quite unfortunate that 4x4s as a group of vehicles have become an easy and an unfair target for emissions," he said. "Land Rover, in terms of its performance, has already exceeded the industry in terms of reduced emissions.

"Between now and 2012, we will reduce our emissions by a further 20%-plus, which is well ahead of where the industry is anticipated to be in that timeframe."

"It does mean we have to work hard in terms of marketing and PR to overcome the stigma that’s been associated with 4x4s. But I think we’ve got a real opportunity, with Land Rover as a leader in the 4x4 market, to illustrate to the world that we can lead in terms of sustainable technology."

The LRX is a prime example of those developments.

The car, which was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show and has wowed motoring journalists and analysts worldwide, is smaller and more fuel-efficient than existing models.

Popham says the "baby 4x4" is so revolutionary it could even create its own "segment" of the motor industry.

It has been widely speculated that the vehicle will be built at Halewood, but Popham insists no decision has even been taken on whether the car will go into production, let alone where it may be built.

He said: "It’s very, very early to make a decision like that. We’ve got to make sure, first and foremost, that we’ve got a car we can make profit out of and can sell in our markets around the world.

"Only when we've come to that conclusion will we talk about manufacturing strategy.

"I sincerely hope that we are able to put that car into production."

Popham says that, if the LRX does get the go-ahead, it could take up to three years before it comes to market.

The motoring press was recently agog with speculation that Land Rover was planning a new seven-seat vehicle, the "Ventura", based on the Freelander 2 chassis.

Land Rover always refuses to comment on speculation about new vehicles, and Popham laughs when pushed about what any new ventures might mean for Halewood.

"I think we should have some of the car magazines actually as our designers, because some of the pictures they come up with on their front covers are quite exciting," he smiled.

"There’s always a lot of speculation around the motor industry. "

"We invest an awful lot of money in new products. We will continue to update our products as we do every year. We will at some point in time obviously replace all our products and we’ll continue to look for new opportunities."

Halewood opened in 1963 to produce the Ford Anglia. In 1967, it started producing the Escort, and eventually made more than 5m of the cars.

But for much of its history the plant had a poor industrial relations record and when Ford decided in 1997 to move Escort production abroad, its future looked bleak.

Instead, union leaders, including Merseyside-born Tony Woodley, and local MPs, worked with Ford to revitalise the plant – and in 1998 Ford confirmed the "baby Jaguar", known as the X- Type, would be built there.

Halewood became the most efficient Ford plant in the world, a fact that Popham says was vital in ensuring it won the right to build Land Rover’s Freelander 2 from 2006. The Freelander 2 makes up around a third of Land Rover’s sales.

But, no matter how often he is pressed, Popham will not discuss any plans the company may have to expand Halewood by building new models there.

"It’s very early to make a comment on that," he said. "But clearly Halewood is performing at or beyond where we would expect in terms of volume and in terms of quality and that’s all we can ask for at the moment."

Popham said JLR had been a "net beneficiary" from its ownership of Ford, including the investment the company had made in transforming Halewood.

But he said he and the rest of the JLR management team were looking forward to their new era under Tata.

He said: "We’re now owned by a very prosperous new owner and someone that’s bought us based on the five-year business plan that our board of directors has presented to them. They're very excited about their acquisition and we’re very excited to be owned by them."

Tata has taken a hands-off approach to many of its past investments, and Popham says the same will be true at JLR.

He said: "Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata is very interested in cars. That’s one of his personal passions, and he has already devoted a lot of time to seeing and understanding our business.

"Their intention is to run us as a separate company. They are an international conglomerate.

"They’ve bought a lot of businesses. They’ve invested responsibly in those businesses and they’ve all prospered. And that is what we expect to happen with Jaguar Land Rover."

alistairhoughton@dailypost.co.uk

Q&A

Age: 42

Family: Lives with wife and two children in Warwickshire

Highest educational qualification: BSc in business from Aston University and a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing

Proudest achievement: I’m now in the job I joined the company to do 20 years ago, and I’ve got the best job in the motor industry.

Outside work: I’m a season ticket holder at West Bromwich Albion and my children have just got season tickets for the first time.

Unfulfilled ambition: I don’t speak a foreign language. The more I travel, the more it frustrates me. If I ever have a month off, I’ll do an intensive language course.