UK: Land Rover intros HST trim for Freelander 2 and Range Rover Sport
Click images for hi-res
UK customers who want a more muscled-up appearance for the Land Rover Freelander 2 and Range Rover Sport are in luck. LR has unveiled the HST trim level, which adds a full body kit, new wheels, and updated grille, will serve as the range-topper for the Freelander 2 (that's LR2 for us Yanks).
Similarly, the Range Rover Sport also gets the HST treatment, with "Stormer" dubs in the wheel wells, updated bodywork, and some associated interior upgrades. There are no associated power upgrades, so think of HST as a "more show, same go" deal, much like the Ford Edge Sport that was unveiled for our market last night. Both vehicles go on sale this March. Press release pasted after the jump.[Source: Land Rover]
Gallery: 2008 Land Rover Freelander 2 HST
PRESS RELEASE:
FREELANDER 2 HST TOPS THE RANGE
Gaydon, Warwickshire, 5 February 2008 – Land Rover will introduce a new 'HST' derivative to complete the Freelander 2 range.
On-sale from March 2008, the Freelander 2 HST will be available from £31,990 on the road. Features include a Sports Styling Pack with front and rear bumper aprons, side sill mouldings and a rear roof spoiler. Other enhancements include 19 inch alloy 10-spoke wheels with shadowchrome finish, leather seat facings, privacy glass and metallic paint.
John Edwards, managing director for Land Rover UK commented: "The Freelander 2 HST has an impressive muscular stance when seen on the road. It will undoubtedly be appealing to our customers who require a dramatic visual impact without compromising on practicality."
He added: "In 2007 the Freelander 2 sold over 18,000 units in the UK which helped contribute to sales in the UK exceeding 50,000 last year for the first time in the company's 60 year history."
Also on-sale in March 2008 will be the Range Rover Sport HST. This new derivative in the 2008 Model Year line-up, comes equipped with 20 inch 'Stormer' wheels, rear spoiler, body coloured lower body and tailgate mouldings, electric sunroof, privacy glass and deep sculptured front and rear bumpers with integrated rectangular exhaust tailpipes. The 2008 HST is also equipped with Premium Leather seats as standard. Sports Leather and Leather Alcantara seats are available as a no cost option.
The Range Rover Sport HST is available with either the TDV8 diesel or Supercharged petrol engines from £59,895 on the road.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bling Bling Boy 4:12PM (2/05/2008)
Everytime I look at the "Freelander" (Mariner,Escape) , I get angry at the whole Badge Engineering practice that some car companies employ just to "whore out" a platform..
Shame on these Auto makers for insulting the intelligence of the market..
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John P. 4:22PM (2/05/2008)
I didn't think the freeloader shared anything with the escape or mariner. If so, the mariner is definitely the best looking of the three.
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Korin Hasegawa-John 4:31PM (2/05/2008)
Shame on you for not knowing your platforms. Freelander's underpinnings are Volvo in origin.
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MD Drew 4:35PM (2/05/2008)
my first thought was: "ugly Ford". I agree, it looks like an escape for the fiscally irresponsible.
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Bling Bling Boy 4:40PM (2/05/2008)
@Korin ~ so are you trying to tell me that the Ford Escape and Freelander share nothing?
I've sat in both of these vehicles, and my "eyes" speaks loader than your words.
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Korin Hasegawa-John 4:54PM (2/05/2008)
Ford Escape: Ford CD2 platform
Wheelbase (in.) 103.1
Length 174.7
Vehicle Height with options (in.) 70
Vehicle width without mirrors (in.) 71.1
Track — front/rear (in.) 61.1/60.4
Land Rover Freelander: Ford EUCD platform
Wheelbase (in.) 104.7
Length 177.1
Vehicle Height with options (in.) 68.5
Vehicle width without mirrors (in.) 75.1
Track — front/rear (in.) 63.0/--
They have no dimensional commonality. The EUCD platform and the CD2 platform are totally different. EUCD stems from the C1 platform, and CD2 stems from the Mazda 626. Your eyes speak a lot less loudly than the engineering.
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Oliver 5:14PM (2/05/2008)
As a Land Rover owner, all I have to say is...Oh snap! These look like the botched facelifts I see all over Malibu.
You can't offroad in a skirt and heals. You just can't. Damn. What'll I do. Damn.
Bring Ian Callum to Land Rover please!
Oliver
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Moe 5:22PM (2/05/2008)
There's a reason why eyes don't speak...
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Bling Bling Boy 5:25PM (2/05/2008)
@Korin ~If those specs are accurate (and I suspect that they are), I'll concede to your position. But you haven't answered my question.
Does the "Freelander" share any of it's
parts and engineering with the "Ford Escape/Mariner"?
That was my main point. I'm not knocking any of these vehicles (as they are very competent machines), I just have an issue with vehicles that are so OBVIOUS in their commonalities.
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trevor2k 7:27PM (2/05/2008)
No. They don't share anything between the two.
Change Ford / Mercury for Volvo, and yes, they share a LOT.
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007 8:16PM (2/05/2008)
all i know is the volvo xc90 and the freelander are the only two vehicles sold in this country with transversely mounted inline six's....although the volvo s80 may also have a transverse six now too...not positive.
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GT 5:30PM (2/06/2008)
i kno...
but hopefully Tata can kill it off...
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Calguy 10:18PM (2/05/2008)
It's the new decorator edition!!! Just grand.
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fizzandpop 11:08PM (2/05/2008)
Please don't use phrases like dimensional commonality when "they're not the same size" will do perfectly well. This is not a Powerpoint.
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Polly Prissy Pants 10:05AM (2/06/2008)
Wow, that LR2 really does look like an Escape, only twice the price and half the reliability. What a bargain.
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lawrieharrold 9:02PM (3/19/2009)
Can you tell me why I can not purchace a Fog Light from Land Rover Main Dealers? I have a Freelander 2001 V6I GS Estate which is fitted with a Land Rover body kit With 4 lights on the front bumper -2 outer driving lights and two inner Fog lights ( these lights have 4 screw holes in the cones ) I have been trying to get a new Fog light but am told that it is no longer available -- could you please tell me where I can get one as I have a broken lens and it ruins what is otherwise a lovely car.
Thank you Regards Lawrie
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