Freelander 2 TD4 and SD4 updated

The upgraded Freelander 2 will feature the technology that switches off the engine when stationary. Like most stop-start applications, it will only be available in the manual transmission, but Land Rover Australia public affairs manager Tim Krieger says they are working on an application for their automatic transmission.

Land Rover claims it will be the first manual diesel SUV with stop-start technology when it arrives in Australia in December. The system controls throttle closing, ramps down fuelling and turns off the alternator to ensure the engine stops smoothly and has a bi-directional crank sensor and trigger wheel to quickly establish the crankshaft position, improving start-up time by 22 per cent.

The new Freelander 2 will also feature new diesel engines with more torque, revised interior with new instrument dials, three new exterior colours, new alloy wheel options and a silver and green "Land Rover" logo replacing the traditional gold on green.

The new diesel models have also been fitted with a fuel tank mis-fuelling device as standard to prevent drivers accidentally filling up with petrol. Krieger says the vehicle will have "significant appeal" in the market and that sales volume will "continue to build".

Freelander is currently running sixth in the luxury SUV class behind Volvo XC60, selling 127 last month (down 2 vehicles or 1.6 per cent) and 568 year to date which is up 5.1 per cent, while the segment up has increased 17.5 per cent. Krieger says those sales are strong considering an upgraded model is imminent. He is also not concerned about competition from the compact Land Rover LRX which has now been formally named the Evoque.

"We feel that there is room in the market for both products," he says. "The Freelander 2 is a well-established Land Rover product that offers all-round capability, practicality and comfort to customers. The Range Rover Evoque opens the brand to a new set of customers. Our research shows that this smaller, more urban SUV will naturally expand the breadth of appeal of the Range Rover brand to a younger and more style conscious customer. The Evoque will offer a very different proposition to the Freelander 2."

The updated Freelander 2 features a new 2.2-litre direct-injection turbo diesel engine, claimed to be quieter and more refined than its predecessor. It comes with either 110kW of output as the TD4 model with an updated manual transmission and stop-start as standard, or the 140kW SD4 with the six-speed auto only.

The engine in both models has an increase of 20Nm of torque to 420Nm, while fuel economy (6.6L/100km for TD4) and CO2 emissions (174-185g/km) remain the same thanks to a water-cooled variable geometry turbocharger that can run at higher speeds. For the first time, the Freelander 2 diesel powertrains are compatible with 10 per cent biodiesel up from 5 per cent.

The Freelander 2 also includes "mild hybrid" technology that uses kinetic energy from the brakes when slowing to help recharge the battery rather than sapping the engine's power. Freelander will continue with the 3.2-litre straight six which has been re-calibrated to meet tougher European emissions regulations with unchanged power and torque of 171kW and 317Nm.

FREELANDER 2 TD4 and SD4

Engine: 2179cc 4-cylinder, 16-valve turbo diesel, common rail fuel injection
Power: 110kW (TD4), 140kW (SD4)
Torque: 420nm
Economy (l/100km): 6.6 (manual), 7 (auto)
CO2 Emissions (g/km) 174 (manual) 185 (auto)
Transmission: 6-speed manual with stop-start (TD4), 6-speed auto (TD4 and SD4)
Drive: 4WD with Haldex rear axle differential
Fuel tank: 68 litres
0-100km/h: 11.7secs (TD4 manual), 11.2secs (TD4 auto), 9.5 (SD4)
Top speed: 181km/h (TD4), 190km/h (SD4)
Suspension: Macpherson struts (front); strut assembly with lateral and longitudinal links (rear)
Brakes: ventilated 300mm discs (front), solid 302mm discs (rear)
Dimensions (mm): 4500 (l), 2195 (w), 1740 (h), 2660 (wheelbase)
Turning circle: 11.3m
Weight: 1785kg, 1805kg, 1805kg