LR2: Round Two

The new compact Land Rover LR2 is a colossal improvement over the Freelander, which it replaces. The LR2 has a starting price of $34,700 (SR 125,000 in the Gulf).

It will compete against the similarly priced Acura RDX and redesigned BMW X3.

Based on the chassis of the redesigned Swedish Volvo S80 luxury sedan, the LR2 shares nothing with the Freelander, not even its engine and transmission, which also are new.

And though it has nothing in common with the Freelander, which was introduced in 2001, the LR2 is sold as the Freelander 2 in Europe, where the original Freelander has been the best-selling compact SUV.

Changing the name was important for the U.S. (and Middle Eastern) market because the Freelander never caught on here despite its original $25,000 (SR 75,000 in KSA) starting price.

Although about $8,000 (SR 40,000 in KSA) above the starting price of the 2005 Freelander (the last year it was sold here), the LR2 has much more standard content, including leather upholstery, full-time four-wheel drive, sunroof and 18-inch alloy wheels.

The LR2 is billed as a premium compact SUV.
And though its four-wheel-drive system lacks the low-range gearing of the more-expensive Land Rovers, the LR2 still has "the greatest breadth of capability in its class, on- and off-road," said Anthony Bradbury, global brand manager for the Freelander 2 and LR2.

The LR2 does come with Land Rover's patented "terrain response" system. This system, pioneered in the LR3, is standard, allowing for easier off-road driving, the company said. But in the LR2, there will be just four of the five driving modes that are included on the LR3 and Range Rover Sport models general driving, grass/gravel/snow, mud and ruts, and sand. The "rock-crawling" mode in the LR3 and Range Rover Sport models is not offered.

Included on the LR2 is hill descent control, which holds the vehicle to a crawl without the need to use the brake on steep downhill grades something that low-range gearing is used for in other Land Rover models.

The four-wheel-drive system, which normally operates with most power going to the front wheels, automatically transfers up to 100 percent of the engine power, to the rear wheels, if necessary to keep the vehicle moving.

Other high-tech features include Land Rover's patented Gradient Release Control. This system "improves driver confidence and control when releasing the brakes on steep and slippery slopes," the company said.

Also standard is electronic stability control with roll mitigation. Front seat-mounted side air bags are standard, along with side-curtain air bags for both rows of seats and a knee air bag for the driver.

Under the hood, the LR2 has a new 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine that puts out 230 horsepower, a significant increase over the 174 horsepower of the 2.5-liter V-6 in the discontinued Freelander.

Source: www.syracuse.com
Additional text by The KLRC Chamber

Printer friendly Version	Written By KingOffTheRoad on 4/8/2007