Thursday 23rd August 2012

Land Rover Freelander updates

Minor styling changes and new kit for 2013 model

---

Land Rover has revealed its facelifted Freelander 2. Changes include minor styling tweaks, revamped equipment levels and new colours and trim variants.

Revised headlights and taillights adopt the inevitable LED technology, with the front headlamps now including a signature daytime running graphic as per the Range Rover Evoque. Further minor changes include a brighter finish for the front grille and fog lamp surrounds and new wheel designs for different models in the Freelander 2 line up.

Headlights and grille are rejigged

There have been changes inside, too, including a new centre console with seven-inch colour touch-screen for the car's audio, phone and optional nav systems. There's also extra storage space, redesigned instruments and a new passive start system means there's no longer any need to place the key in a dock before start-up.

A new five-inch screen sits between the dials on the instrument panel, displaying information such as temperature and fuel levels, gear choice and Terrain Response mode, now controlled by steering wheel toggle switches rather than a dial. A new reversing camera includes 'Hitch Assist', a graphic showing the position of the tow ball for manoeuvring up to a trailer.

Updates include new centre console

In other updates, an 'intelligent' electric parking brake now varies brake force depending on how steep a slope the car is parked on. Land Rover says the system is able to detect whether the brakes are hot or cold, maintaining clamping force accordingly. It's still possible to use the parking brake switch as an emergency brake, the system automatically selecting the most stable braking method via the vehicle's ESP systems.

Three new colours have been added to the range - Aintree Green, Havana and Mauritius Blue - along with two new trim variants: Dynamic and HSE Lux. The Dynamic model includes a body kit and gloss black grille surrounds together with new 19-inch 10-spoke alloy wheel, whilst the HSE LUX adds leather seats and 19-inch diamond turned wheels.

Drivetrains remain unchanged, with a choice of two different diesel engines.

The new Freelander 2 will be unveiled at the Moscow International Motor Show on 29th August.

[Frimley111R]

Was it worth updating if the new one is launched on 29 Aug? (I suppose it may not be prodcution ready).

[Shaw Tarse]

More pics http://newsroom.jaguarlandrover.com/en-in/land-rov...

[daveevans]

Frimley111R said:

Was it worth updating if the new one is launched on 29 Aug? (I suppose it may not be prodcution ready).

Surely the article just means to say the facelift Freelander 2 will be seen in the flesh on 29 August?

I would assume a Freelander 3 is some time away still.

[rm89]

daveevans said:

Frimley111R said:

Was it worth updating if the new one is launched on 29 Aug? (I suppose it may not be prodcution ready).

Surely the article just means to say the facelift Freelander 2 will be seen in the flesh on 29 August?

I would assume a Freelander 3 is some time away still.

This. The article should probably read "the facelifted Freelander 2" rather than "the new" to avoid any further confusion.

[Hoofty]

A4086 from Capel Curig to Beddgelert, do we think?

[/road bearding]

[RenesisEvo]

Maybe I've missed something, maybe I'm just over-reacting, but this article seems very at odds with the PH ethos - it sounds like it could have been lifted straight from Autocar (goes to check Autocar - well, what do you know...). Really confused as to why PH have published this fairly insipid piece. I don't visit PH to read about trim updates for mainstream cars - the fact these articles aren't normally on PH is what makes it so good IMO. I'm sure there's plenty of good reasons, but, well - it doesn't seem right to me.

[Oddball RS]

Looks very old hat now..........

[FoundOnRoadside]

More technology in a Land Rover. That's going to go well...

Wonder how well the colour LCD displays will be working by 2018?

[stevensdrs]

Frimley111R said:

Was it worth updating if the new one is launched on 29 Aug? (I suppose it may not be prodcution ready).

A new one would be a Freelander 3. They mean the facelift is launched on 29th August.

[macdeb]

RenesisEvo said:

Maybe I've missed something, maybe I'm just over-reacting, but this article seems very at odds with the PH ethos - it sounds like it could have been lifted straight from Autocar (goes to check Autocar - well, what do you know...). Really confused as to why PH have published this fairly insipid piece. I don't visit PH to read about trim updates for mainstream cars - the fact these articles aren't normally on PH is what makes it so good IMO. I'm sure there's plenty of good reasons, but, well - it doesn't seem right to me.

This^^^^ Freelander updates

[Pistonwot]

A worthy story for Farming & Agricultural Industry News or Average Mums School Run Crapper BUT Pistonheads, WTF?

[Waugh-terfall]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

"Terrain Response mode, now controlled by steering wheel toggle switches rather than a dial."

In 5 years of ownership / 50,000 miles I *think* we have used the Terrain response maybe 10 times. The big dial is helpfully out of the way.
Not sure the immediacy and frequency of use really warrants it to be at the fingertips on the wheel a la the Fez Manneto settings....

It still appears to be on the centre console, no longer controlled by the chunky dial, but with left and right buttons.

[j_s14a]

Pistonwot said:

A worthy story for Farming & Agricultural Industry News or Average Mums School Run Crapper BUT Pistonheads, WTF?

+1

The Freelander commits the worst crime of all to the petrol head - its utterly dull.

[Hitch78]

j_s14a said:

Pistonwot said:

A worthy story for Farming & Agricultural Industry News or Average Mums School Run Crapper BUT Pistonheads, WTF?

+1

The Freelander commits the worst crime of all to the petrol head - its utterly dull.

That's a tad unfair. I've got the i6 and it's a great daily driver; when it is bouncing over sand dunes it is anything but dull.

[RacerMike]

Does seem a bit of a random news story for Pistonheads front page! I know the Freelander is a hugely popular family car, but it's not exactly a huge new update or anything! Still....sure it'll make it a little more up to date!

[Hellbound]

This.

+1

This. +1 This.

God, isn't that all a bit bloody irritating.

Anyway, the Freelander isn't a jack of all trades, which means it's pretty far off from being a master of anything. It actually tarnishes the brand a little.

Kill it now or replace it now.

[David87]

RenesisEvo said:

Maybe I've missed something, maybe I'm just over-reacting, but this article seems very at odds with the PH ethos - it sounds like it could have been lifted straight from Autocar (goes to check Autocar - well, what do you know...). Really confused as to why PH have published this fairly insipid piece. I don't visit PH to read about trim updates for mainstream cars - the fact these articles aren't normally on PH is what makes it so good IMO. I'm sure there's plenty of good reasons, but, well - it doesn't seem right to me.

Don't click on it then.

[GuinnessMK]

Overtook one of these on the M5 today, in recession white and trade plates.

For a moment I was confused by the styling, as it's now looking like a collection of parts from the more successful models.

Air vent in front wing from a RR Sport, yes.

Headlights from a Disco, yes.

etc etc

[anonymous-user]

GuinnessMK said:

Overtook one of these on the M5 today, in recession white and trade plates.

For a moment I was confused by the styling, as it's now looking like a collection of parts from the more successful models.

Air vent in front wing from a RR Sport, yes.

Headlights from a Disco, yes.

etc etc

Isn't that just brand continuity? It's hardly an uncommon thing to see that through the range of a manufacturer. Neither of those things are literally carried over; it does not have a lifted RRS vent or Disco headlights.

[Hellbound]

I think because it's a Land Rover...some people are being quite defensive of it.