Land Rover’s Freelander has not always been the perfect poster boy for its “go anywhere” image, but the next generation, which mimics is big brother Discovery 3 in many ways, should spark some change.
Land Rover’s Freelander has not always been the perfect poster boy for its “go anywhere” image, but the next generation, which mimics is big brother Discovery 3 in many ways, should spark some change.
Riding on the successes of the iconic Range Rover flagship, and more recently the new Discovery 3, the soft-roader’s sales have remained fairly steady, despite it being around since the late 90s.
The baby Landy received a mainly cosmetic update in 2004 and the number of spy pictures currently doing the rounds indicates that a new model is very close to being unveiled.
The new rugged soft roader could be the star exhibit at the British Motor Show in July, after it was expected that Ford’s Premier Automotive Group (PAG) would take the wraps off at the Detroit show. The new Freelander will be available here in 2007.
These pictures suggest that the current Freelander’s soft curves will be replaced by the more purposeful, squared-off styling that has become the signature of its bigger brothers. It will also be more upmarket than the model it replaces, with styling and functions influenced by the Discovery 3 and, to a lesser extent, the Range Rover.
Expect it to be a more capable off-roader too. The Freelander rides on a version of Ford Motor Company’s C1 platform, which already forms the basis of models like the Volvo S40 and Ford Focus.
However, the Freelander’s ground clearance will be increased and it should come equipped with Land Rover’s very clever Terrain Response system to deal with those rough off-road patches. Gearboxes and engines will probably be upgraded to deliver more spirited responses, particularly when venturing off-road.
The little Landy has consistently been seen as the bad apple in the Land Rover cart with reliability and quality issues its greatest consumer gripes. The next Freelander joins the new breed of Land Rovers that falls wholly within PAG’s sphere. And chances are, like the new Discovery, it too could experience a dramatic change in fortunes.