Description
It was the second attempt made by Land Rover to build an SUV, and the result was a capable off-road vehicle that could put a shame on other 4x4 vehicles.
Land Rover Freelander was the last vehicle developed with Ford before the blue-oval carmaker sold its stakes to the Indian company Tata.
The platform was used for the Ford Mondeo and Volvo XC60 as well, but the result was better for the British brand. While its predecessor was built together with BMW, the Freelander's second generation was completely different, from tip to toe. It kept the overall look of a Land Rover, with a subtle bump over the rear side of the roof. Its big, rectangular headlights and the similarly shaped grille made the car looks tougher. The rest of the vehicle featured rounded edges and flat door-panels, narrower than the outer track. A set of plastic molding protected the lower side of the SUV.
Inside, the Freelander 2 offered enough room for up to five adults due to its clever platform. The designers installed a curved dashboard with a high center console. They put three large dials on the instrument cluster with four gauges and an LCD at the bottom. The rear bench featured a split-folding seatback to expand the already big trunk.
Land Rover opted for just two engine versions for the drivetrain: a 3.2-liter V6 and a 2.2-liter turbodiesel developed together with Peugeot-Citroen. It was paired as standard to a 6-speed manual, and there was an option for a 6-speed automatic. The vehicle's most important system was the “Terrain Response,” which could set the torque distribution between the wheels to offer the best possible traction available, depending on the surface.
Press Release
The Freelander 2 is new from the ground up, with outstanding on-road performance as well as the class-leading off-road ability expected of a true Land Rover. A dynamic design, purposeful stance, smart and spacious interior and an abundance of advanced technologies complete the package.
Technical highlights of the Freelander 2 include: • Two new engines: - 2.2-litre TD4 diesel (160 PS / 118 kW) - better fuel economy than its predecessor (37.7 mpg : 7.5 l/100 km) and 43 per cent more power - 3.2-litre i6 petrol (233 PS / 171 kW) - 30 per cent more powerful than the outgoing V6 with 10 per cent improvement in fuel economy - Full-time intelligent 4x4 that helps optimise traction and fuel economy - Land Rover' s unique Terrain Response™ - for easier off-road driving - heads a long list of advanced technologies, many new to the class
For the 2007 model year, the Range Rover gains a powerful, refined, all-new TDV8 diesel engine, which cuts the 0-60 mph sprint (and 0-100 km/h) by over four seconds, but has the same fuel economy as the outgoing diesel (25.1 mpg combined average). Added technologies include Land Rover's acclaimed Terrain Response, electronic park brake and electronic rear 'e' differential. The improved cabin also gains extra stowage, enhanced finishes and more effective air-conditioning - plus the option of cooled front seats.
Land Rover's managing director, Phil Popham, said: "We are delighted to be supporting the British International Motor Show here in London with two product debuts - it is our home show and is very important to our business. The first of these products, an updated Range Rover, comes with a new TDV8 engine which has a balance of performance, refinement and economy that is unmatched - it makes this vehicle even more desirable."
He continued: "The Freelander 2 sets new standards in the sector, combining the advantages of a premium car with the attributes of a robust 4x4. We believe that no other compact 4x4 gets closer to blending these best-of-both-worlds abilities."
The Range Rover for 2007 goes on sale from September this year, with the Freelander 2 following it into Land Rover showrooms from December. Prices for the Freelander 2 will start at approximately £22,000 and rise to over £30,000. Land Rover dealers are taking orders for the new vehicles now and more specification information such as available colours and 360 degree design tours are available online at www.landrover.co.uk.
