A new 2.0-litre direct injection turbocharged petrol engine, refreshed looks and extra equipment are all part of the revised Land Rover Freelander 2 which goes on-sale in December.
Not surprisingly, the updated Freelander borrows heavily from its hot-selling stablemate the Range Rover Evoque.
For starters thesix-cylinder petrol engine is replaced by a new powerplant from the Evoque – the Si4 GTDi, a turbocharged 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine good for 177kW/340Nm. Some 40kgs lighter than the previous six-cylinder engine, the new turbo 2.0-litre is also ahead on the efficiency indexes - fuel consumption rated at 9.6l/100kms and exhaust C02 at 224g/km.
Drive is to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.
Diesel power remains the 2.2-litre 110kW TD4 and 140kW SD4.
On the outside, the new land Rover Freelander 2 is identified by revised front and rear styling featuring new Xenon headlights and new LED rear lights. In addition, the grille and fender vents boast updated looks.
Inside are major changes headlined by an all-new centre console and instrument cluster (the latter with a five-inch screen display). Land Rover introduced the new centre console for the updated Terrain Response controls and also because the new Freelander 2 adopts an electronic parking brake (which also delivers enhanced footwell space up-front).
Satellite navigation switches to a better hard-drive system and there are available Meridian audio systems with a seven-inch colour touch screen and 17 ot 11 speakers.
Also new to Freelander 2 is a reversing camera which includes an on-screen graphic of the towbar towball (Land Rover calls it ‘Hitch Assist’) to aid trailer connections.
In Britain, the updated Land Rover Freelander 2 will again be offered in three model grades – entry-level TD4, mid-specification SE (extras include leather trim, Meridian audio and rear-view camera), and range-topping HSE (extra include electrically-adjustable seats in grained leather - or optional Windsor leather – wood and Grand Black Lacquer trim highlights and 19-inch diamond turned alloy wheels).
Land Rover Australia will reveal local details and prices closer to launch.
