Land Rover officially reveals Freelander 2
Newswheel staff :: 23 June 2006 :: Filed under SUV, Land Rover, Land Rover Freelander / LR2, Europe & UK, US
[Click on an image to view]
And not a moment too soon
And so it came to pass that on this 23rd day of June, in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Six, Land Rover did verily dish out full
details of the new Freelander 2 SUV. And there was a modicum of
rejoicing. But not much by way of surprises (thanks to a litany of pre-launch leaking). Technical details are
largely as per our previous stories, with the range-topping Freelander
i6 packing a 230bhp 3.2-litre straight-six and a
derv-drinking option offering 158bhp and 295lb/ft from a 2.2-litre
four-pot unit. Still, LR’s press release bumpf does fill out a few of
the finer details…
Engine-wise, Land Rover emphasises that the
Volvo-sourced straight-six has been extensively modified for
Freelander installation. Off-roading upgrades include improved dust,
mud and water protection as well as increased operating parameters in
terms of tilt angles. As for performance numbers, the i6 hits 60 in 8.5
seconds, while the TD4 requires a more sedate 10.9 clicks. Top speeds,
meanwhile, are claimed to be 124mph and 112mph, respectively.
Overall,
Freelander 2 is 50mm longer, 109mm wider and 32mm taller than outgoing
model. LR reckons it moves up a class in terms of interior packaging
but has so far declined to quote interior measurements.
As for 4x4 kit, the Freelander 2 uses a Haldex hydraulic setup with adaptive torque balancing and a front-wheel biased default configuration. However, if that sounds a little soft-roaderish for a Land Rover, the Freelander 2 also boasts an electronically-controlled centre coupling that provides full-time four-wheel-drive for serious off-road work. If we’ve got our front and rear differentials sorted from our dynamically-linked propshafts, the system delivers full-time four-wheel-drive on-the-fly as conditions require. Needless to say, Land Rover has also specified a battery of traction and stability-enhancing software features including Terrain Response (with General Driving, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts and Sand modes on offer), DSC stability control, Hill Descent Control and Roll Stability Control to name but a few.
Land
Rover will crank out the Freelander 2 from its Halewood plant in
Liverpool. The SUV gets its first public outing next month at the
London motor show. Prices and on-sale dates have yet to be revealed.
Additional Freelander 2 tech specs:
| Kerb weight: | 1,770kg |
| Max towing weight: | 750kg |
| Length: | 4,500mm |
| Width (inc mirrors): | 2,180mm |
| Height (inc roof rails): | 1,820mm |
| Wheelbase: | 2,660mm |
| Wading depth: | 500mm |
| Approach angle: | 31 degrees |
| Departure angle: | 34 degrees |
| Ground clearance: | 220mm |
| Rear overhang: | 935mm |
| CO2 emissions - i6: | 265g/km |
| CO2 emissions - TD4: | 194g/km |
| Fuel economy - i6 (comb. cycle): | 25.2mpg |
| Fuel economy - TD4 (comb. cycle): | 37.7mpg |
| Luggage capacity: | 755 litres |
| Luggage capacity (seats down): | 1,670 litres |
More images than you can possibly imagine (flex those fingers for uber-sized images):
Posted 09 July 2006, by Roland W Weston
Looks a superb vehicle would like to know if a diesel automatic will be available look forward to seeing it at the motor show.A couple of tickets would be useful.