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Land Rover Freelander becomes baby LR3
A
computer-enhanced illustration based on spy shots of the next Land Rover Freelander suggest Landie’s littlest ute
will look a lot like its more attractive big brother, the LR3, when it debuts later this year at the Paris Motor Show.
The current Freelander’s sheetmetal is, well, a bit stale to put it nicely. Tapping into the attractiveness of the LR3 should help revive sales of the one vehicle in LR’s lineup that’s not pulling its weight. Land Rover could only unload six (that’s not a typo) Freelanders in the month of February, down from 232 the prior year. (See official sales figures below}
And guess what will underpin the next Freelander – the C1 platform. That’s right, the same platform that supports the Mazda3 and Volvo S40 here in the States and the European Ford Focus across the Atlantic will show up again on our shores, but not beneath an all-new Focus… not just yet.
[Source: Ford/Land Rover]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DJ 9:19AM (3/20/2006)
WOW! I knew that Land Rover sales were strong, but up 31% for the current year to date? In that's in spite of record high gasoline prices worldwide. What's really amazing id the Range Rover Sport. It's accounting for close to 40% of the brand's entire sales volume.
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doug 9:23AM (3/20/2006)
I thought I heard at one point that the LR3 would share a platform with the next Escape. It would only make sense.
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John Voelcker 9:58AM (3/20/2006)
Not really fair to talk about only 6 Freelanders sold in the U.S. They've had supply problems with the KV6 engine this model uses; it got caught up in the MG Rover bankruptcy and the tooling, I think, was picked up and shipped to China.
I gather that production of the old one has stopped, for all intents and purposes. Those six were leftover dealer stock and could be a year old by now.
That said, the Freelander wasn't that great a vehicle and didn't -- to your point -- pull its weight. No pun intended, ahem?
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Devin Lussier 10:37AM (3/20/2006)
Well 6 Freelanders in 2006 is pretty good considering they aren't officially selling them any more. Take a quick peek at their US website: http://www.landroverusa.com/us/en/Vehicles/Past_Vehicles/Overview.htm
Anyways, I have to say I like that concept picture and if they kept the pricing down it could sell very well.
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That One Person 10:50AM (3/20/2006)
I see Freelander's EVERYWHERE around here. Its odd. But yea, I am looking forward to seeing the new one. Should be a good seller.
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lalaland 11:24AM (3/20/2006)
Land Rover said publicaly at the Detroit Auto Show that the next Freelander will be unveiled at the London Motor Show, not at Paris. And Land Rover hasn't sold the current Freelander since last summer, so citing sales figures is moot. Edmunds doesn't know what their talking about.
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JS 11:28AM (3/20/2006)
Looks great! Give it some serious off-road abilities like the defenders of yore and maybe a diesel engine and ill take one in black please.
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ramsport47@yahoo.com 12:32PM (3/20/2006)
so...it doesn't seem odd to anyone else that Land Rover is basing the next gen Freelander on a Focus?????
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JW 1:06PM (3/20/2006)
@8. so...it doesn't seem odd to anyone else that Land Rover is basing the next gen Freelander on a Focus?????
Sounds good to me. When I was looking at 4WD vehicles, I didn't give the Freelander much thought since it's a truck frame. I admit it - I want the 4WD mostly for bad weather (live in New England) and I want something that has some highway manners. The old Freelander doesn't fit the bill, the new one might.
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Gunnar Heinrich 1:55PM (3/20/2006)
A much nicer looking machine than the original Freelander. What piece of junk that old car Rover was.
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
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dave 2:57PM (3/20/2006)
I see the Car & Driver Comparo now ... Acura RDX, Volvo XC50, BMW X3, Freelander ... Now we'll just need an Audi Q5 and a boxy baby Benz, plus the requisite VW to show how it can all be done for less $, and let the entry-level, soft-road games begin!
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Art 4:19PM (3/20/2006)
I see the Car & Driver Comparo now ... Acura RDX, Volvo XC50, BMW X3, Freelander ... Now we'll just need an Audi Q5 and a boxy baby Benz, plus the requisite VW to show how it can all be done for less $, and let the entry-level, soft-road games begin!
amen to that. All sub 35, for the well-off junior's not ten yet couples who want style, grace and some performance to boot (none of those wil be pitifully slow...I assume.)
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Will 4:57PM (3/20/2006)
Odd... I thought Land Rover was basing their next-generation Freelander design to look more like the current Range Rover.
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JD 10:22AM (4/01/2006)
I've owned a Freelander for approximately 14 months. It's been in the shop 5 times, 4 for alignment issues. The dealership has replaced 4 tires and cannot restore the car back to factory condition. The steering wheel will not sit straight and the vehilce tends to lurch to the right.
I moved from a Ford Explorer seeking the Land Rover allure of strength, durability and agility in the Colorado environment. I would do anything to have my Explorer back. Between the dealership BS and the vehicle itself I've lost complete faith in what the brand is said to represent.
Anyone else feel the same or am I alone in this?
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Dsmith 5:14PM (5/25/2007)
I have a 2006 LR3. The 4 tires on the vehicle started to wear around the 24000km mark. Al;l four tires need replacing. When I first heard the noise I took the vehicle into the dealer. They said right away that I need a wheel alignment. It seemed odd that they new the problem so quickly. When I asked if it was common the service person backpedaled and said no it is just probably that. After. Before I( went back to the dealer I researched the issue on the internet and found it is a very common problem. After confronting the service person upon my return he eventually said it does happen from time to time but that it was the Goodyear tires. If I switched brands the problem would go away. He also said that the dealer now recommends alignment inspections every 12,000 km's. Nice to tell me that now after the first set of tires are ruined. I sent an e-mail to Land Rover Canada explaining the situation. The person who was checking their e-mail accidentally replied instead of forwarding the e-mail. Her comments were "here is another one the same issue!!! After replying back to her she quickly tried to cover her tracks. Land Rover Canada was very polite and called the dealer but would do nothing to stand behind the vehicle. You bought you own it it's your problem and the dealers problem. They again said the alignment should be checked every 12,000 km's. My opinion was if they new this why are the owners not advised? I would prefer to pay $50 to have the alignment checked rather than having to buy new tires every year! It dissapoints me that a company like Land Rover does not support it's customers.
jann 2:34AM (4/05/2006)
I purchased a 2004 Freelander SE yesterday--amid all the negatve/positive reviews I found on the internet--from "pros" and "owners"--today, I found MORE reviews and also found sites stating 2005 was the last year they will be available--talk about a sick stomach--now i am worried about replacement parts, etc--and NOW I find sites for the 2006 and 2007 Freelander--I AM CONFUSED!!--Does this mean they will be produced but not available thru Land Rover dealers in the US? This rollercoaster **** is getting to me!!
To JD (posting 1Apr06)--I too, have gone from an Explorer to a Freelander--I kept my Explorer--just in case (smile)
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mati 2:04PM (4/05/2006)
I have seen some spy pics of the new freelander but i think that the one on the picture aren't the freelander because the freelander have got a very bold and round nose but the LR3 have a very square front nose try to google "freelander spy pics" up and you can see what I meen (;
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Jack 6:29PM (4/05/2006)
Mati- actually I belive the new Freelander will take more styling cues from the RR sport than the LR3- check out this think and decide your own conclusion:
http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2006/04/stories/01/1.html
Overall, it's going to still be a mix of the two with some attributes from the old FLander returning.
BTW, can't wait to see this in July, what a great move by Land Rover and Ford- seems they are really working together to reconstruct a great brand.
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Lisa 11:55AM (4/18/2006)
Anyone who has a Freelander should be worried about excessive repairs. Our '03 has had multiple issues since 25k and now at 55k needs the engine replaced. Outside of Land Rover, mechanics say that it is poor worksmanship.
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Rich F 3:58PM (5/02/2006)
I've had my 2005 Freelander since Sept. 2005 and I absolutely love it. Rock Solid. I've driven the RAV4 and the Liberty, and those two things are crates compared to the Freelander.
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