The all-new Land Rover Freelander 2 "redefines the compact premium 4x4 class", Muscats Motors, local Land Rover agents said at the local launch last month.
Sales manager Daniel Sissons said the Freelander 2 is "instantly recognisable as a Land Rover" thanks to its chiselled lines, interlocking shapes and smooth surfaces. There are also styling cues from the Discovery 3 and Ranger Rover Sport.
Muscats Motors laid on an elaborate programme for the Freelander 2 launch, starting with breakfast at the Radisson SAS Golden Sands Resort, a presentation on the new vehicle, following an introduction by general manager Henry Scicluna, the official unveiling of the vehicle and the ride and drive event itself - more on which in the next issue of Motoring.
New from the ground up, the Freelander 2 delivers "outstanding on-road performance as well as the class-leading off-road ability of a true Land Rover", Muscats Motors said. "A dynamic design, purposeful stance, smart and spacious interior, and an abundance of advanced technologies complete the package."
According to Land Rover managing director Phil Popham: "The Freelander 2 sets new standards in the sector, combining the advantages of a premium car - such as polished ride, accomplished performance, attractive cabin and ease of use - with the attributes of a robust 4x4, including go-anywhere ability, toughness, panoramic seating, cabin versatility and spaciousness. We believe that no other compact 4x4 gets closer to blending these best-of-both-worlds abilities."
The original Freelander, launched in 1997, is seen by many as having created a whole new class of vehicle: the compact premium 4x4. The company was then owned by BMW, which has since sold it to Ford.
It was the top-selling 4x4 in Europe for five years and remained the UK's best-selling 4x4 from launch until the end of 2005. The all-new Freelander 2 is improved in every way: better performance, more economical, more refined, higher quality and substantially roomier. It is more capable both off-road and on-road, with transformed handling, ride and comfort.
Freelander 2 is Land Rover's fourth all-new vehicle in just over four years, and follows the new Range Rover (2002), Discovery 3 (2004) and Range Rover Sport (2005). Their highly successful introductions contributed to record Land Rover sales worldwide in 2005.
Technical highlights of the Freelander 2 include two brand-new engines: a 3.2-litre straight-six petrol and a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel. Both feature advanced technologies to deliver outstanding combinations of performance and economy.
The 233 bhp i6 petrol engine provides a top speed of 200 km/h and 0-100 km/h acceleration in 8.9 seconds. Combined fuel economy is 11.2 litres/100 km. The engine is matched to a new six-speed automatic transmission, with Land Rover's CommandShift, offering manual sequential gear changes when required. There is also a driver-selectable sport mode, for livelier performance.
The diesel engine - likely to be the one of choice in Malta for Freelander 2 is - an all-new 2.2-litre four-cylinder. The 160 bhp unit delivers peak torque (pulling power) of 400 Nm, with over 200 Nm of torque from 1,000 rpm all the way to 4,500 rpm.
The engine is easy and responsive to drive, as well as highly refined and economical, with a combined average fuel consumption of 7.5 l/100 km. An optional catalysed Diesel Particulate Filter (cDPF) is also available for even cleaner performance. Two transmissions are offered: a new six-speed manual gearbox and the same six-speed automatic used on the petrol engine.
The interior package of Freelander 2 is a major improvement over the outgoing vehicle. Although only 50 mm longer, the Freelander 2 has more generous head, shoulder and legroom, in both the front and rear. Large glass areas emphasise the spacious feel and complement the elevated 'command driving' position - a Land Rover hallmark - and 'stadium seating', where rear passengers sit slightly higher than front occupants, for a clearer view of the world outside.
Boot space is also among the best in class and 38 per cent larger than that of the outgoing Freelander (with rear seats up - 755 litres vs 546 litres).
The exterior and interior design of Freelander 2 is completely fresh, integrating the company's unique design language with a form that is instantly recognisable as the latest Land Rover.
The body is a five-door monocoque structure, with a high level of torsional rigidity, which benefits refinement, comfort and handling on-road as well as ensuring the vehicle is fit for serious off-roading. The suspension is fully independent and uses the most modern stability control systems, including Roll Stability Control (RSC), a new, sophisticated technology that helps mitigate the risk of roll-over.
Freelander 2 is packed with new technologies to improve both on-road and off-road performance, many new to the class. Land Rover's unique Terrain Response is standard on all but the entry-level model, to make off-roading easier, offering a choice of normal, snow, wet mode and sand mode.
Other interesting technologies include a new full-time intelligent 4x4 system for superior traction and better on-road fuel economy, and the patented Gradient Release Control (an evolution of the Hill Descent Control), which improves driver confidence and control when releasing the brakes on steep and slippery slopes.
Other features and options rare in this class include: keyless starter button, bi-xenon headlamps, adaptive front lighting, rain-sensing wipers and park distance control (front and rear). A two-part panoramic sunroof increases the cabin's airiness: air-conditioning is standard on all models and a full colour touch-screen DVD satellite navigation system is also available.
The choice of top-level audio systems includes DAB digital radio and 12-speaker Dolby Prologic IIx Surround Sound with fibre-optic interconnects. An auxiliary audio connection (for iPods and MP3 players) is standard on all vehicles.
Designed and engineered by Land Rover at Gaydon, near Warwick, Freelander 2 is built at the Halewood plant in Liverpool, where outstanding build quality has been acknowledged with a JD Power European Plant Quality Gold Award in 2005. Prices start at Lm20,800 for the 2.2S ranging up to the top-of-the-range 2.2 HSE at Lm31,000.