2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 Revealed

Land Rover has revealed details of the upcoming 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 model.

With a new range of clean EU5 diesel engines, better interiors and some sleeker style, the 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 is greener, more powerful and efficient than its precursor.

The 2011 Freelander 2 will feature new 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine available with either 148bhp or 187bhp outputs.

The 148bhp version of the four-wheel drive Freelander 2 comes with intelligent Stop/Start technology as standard (an automatic gearbox without Stop/Start is available as a cost option). The new SD4 model delivering 187bhp is available in automatic transmission only.

The entry-level unit with manual gearbox has improved by 8 percent to 165g/km of CO2 with a corresponding improvement in fuel economy of 9 percent to 45.6mpg (6.2 L/100km or 38 mpg U.S.).

The range-topping 187bhp SD4 Freelander 2 will hit a very respectable 40.4mpg combined (7 L/100km or 33.6 mpg U.S.), while offering lower CO2 emissions of 185g/km.

However, despite reductions in consumption and emissions, there has been no compromise in performance.  The flagship 187bhp Freelander SD4 accelerates from 0 to 60mph in 8.7 seconds (almost 2 seconds quicker than the outgoing model) with an increased top speed of 118mph.

"The new Freelander 2 eD4 moves Land Rover into the hugely popular and fiercely contested two wheel-drive SUV market. The European market for two-wheel drive SUVs represents 23 percent of the segment and we intend to compete strongly here," said Land Rover managing director Phil Popham.As an addition to the Land Rover Freelander 2 range, the company will also offer customers a 2WD derivative, available in the UK from January 2011. This will be called the Land Rover Freelander 2 eD4 and it will be the most efficient Land Rover ever produced.

Powered by the new 2.2-liter turbo diesel, the Freelander 2 eD4 manages 47.2mpg (6 L/100km or 39.3 mpg U.S.) on the combined cycle and emits 158g/km of CO2. Currently the Freelander manages 42.2mpg (6.7 L/100km or 35.1 mpg U.S.) and 179g/km.

The 2011 Freelander 2 retains the outgoing car's safety features, boasting seven airbags and the all-important five-star Euro NCAP rating.

The 4WD TD4 and SD4 models are on sale in the UK from the end of September. Prices are set to start at £21,695 for the entry level TD4 S, rising to £35,510 for the range topping SD4 HSE mode.