Last night at a WTA party in London, Maria Sharapova, tennis star and Land Rover spokesperson, gave attendees the first look at the completely redesigned Land Rover Freelander 2 (LR2 in the US). Sharapova drives a Range Rover when she’s at home in the States.
The new Freelander is a significant departure from the model it’s replacing. While the original Freelander sold well in Europe, it didn’t perform nearly as well in the US. That should change, however, with the introduction of the Freelander 2/LR2. For starters, the new truck is bigger (read: more comfortable) inside. It has increased carrying capacity to the tune of 38 percent, and uses Land Rover’s familiar Stadium Seating plan to five front and rear passengers commanding views out of the cabin. This is augmented by the use of large glass areas and narrow pillars to create a more airy feeling for the occupants. The dashboard layout and quality is typical of Land Rover’s recent products, with a smart-looking center stack and easy-to-read gauges.
Outside, the LR2 incorporates Land Rover’s current design language, incorporating cues from the Range Rovers and LR3 without somply turning it into a miniturized clone. In profile, it retains the wagonlike shape of the old Freelander, albeit in much cleaner and more modern packaging.
[More info and photos on the source site: autoblog.com]
