Land Rover developing new 7-seater
Land Rover is reportedly developing a new seven-seater SUV based on the Freelander. Codenamed "Project L486", the new vehicle will slot into the line-up in between the Freelander and the Discovery, with styling cues culled from the LRX concept. The vehicle will use Ford's EUCD platform, which also underpins the Freelander as well as the Volvo XC60, V70 and S80 and the Ford Galaxy, S-Max and Mondeo. While the new model, which could appear under the "Ventura" nameplate, is said to be more on-road focused than off, it will still feature such go-anywhere systems as hill descent control operated via Land Rover's "Terrain Response" switch, along with traction control and stability management. A wide array of powertrain options are expected to be on offer, including diesel and gasoline engines mated to manual and automatic transmissions as well as Ford/Volvo's Getrag-sourced dual-clutch transmission and a mild hybrid system.
The new model is expected to make its debut in 2012, with production taking place alongside the Land Rover Freelander and the production LRX and the Jaguar X-Type at the Halewood plant in Merseyside, England.
[Source: Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Avinash machado 11:04AM (6/24/2008)
The vehicle will use Ford's EUCD platform, which also underpins the Freelander as well as the Volvo XC60, V70 and S80 and the Ford Galaxy, S-Max and Mondeo.
So I guess LR will continue using Ford platforms and components for the next few years. Maybe they should have retained a small stake of around 20% in LR as well instead of selling it off completely.
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tankd0g 11:10AM (6/24/2008)
India hasn't bought them yet eh?
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BMC 11:14AM (6/24/2008)
Land Rover risk analyst: "Bah, this oil shortage and high gas prices, they're just a mere blip on the economic radar, go ahead and build a big behemoth SUV, people will gobble them up in 2012."
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trevor2k 12:59PM (6/24/2008)
You realize that it is going to be a smaller vehicle, right? Your post makes no sense.
Michael 1:16PM (6/24/2008)
But trevor2k, reading is overrated.
Gregg 11:14AM (6/24/2008)
The X-Type will exist in 2012??
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Spike 11:20AM (6/24/2008)
Great news!
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Tsunami Racer 11:23AM (6/24/2008)
"Ventura?" i'm sure we in the USA will get some silly name like LR2.5.
i remember one of the corporate guys telling me a couple years ago they changed "Discovery" to LR3 because their focus groups told them the name "Discovery" had an unfortunate image linked with unreliabiity. I asked "Are you sure it was the name 'Discovery'? Are you sure it wasn't the name 'Land Rover'?"
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Dan 11:24AM (6/24/2008)
Stupid move. They just need to keep the LR3 (Disco), RR and Defender and get rid of the LR2 (Freelander) and they will have a nice line up.
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Soccer Mom 11:39AM (6/24/2008)
What it really needs is a bigger and thirstier engine with less power. Additional 1,000 pounds of weight will add to its appeal. And don't forget: making it extremely unreliable will be a huge plus.
Waiting anxiously in 2014.
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Trevor Nalepka 12:12PM (6/24/2008)
Sarcasm is all you need to describe Land Rover. Nice one Soccer Mom
Everett 12:24PM (6/24/2008)
You're comment was hilarious! No one has summed up LR as well!
1337 3:46PM (6/24/2008)
Can I get horrible ergonomics with that?
anti-believer 11:47AM (6/24/2008)
Re: X-type
No, the writer stated that this new SUV will be built at the same plant where currently the X-type is. Doesn't mean X-type will be around until 2012.
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PJ 12:41PM (6/24/2008)
Off topic, but Ford should get the aforementioned Galaxy and S-Max Stateside ASAP. With rising gas prices butting up against Americans' love of spacious cabins to clutter, the expansion of the Euro MPV segment into the U.S. seems inevitable.
More relevant than another Land Rover, IMO.
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BMC 12:01PM (6/24/2008)
Soccer Mom's got it figured out. I'm right behind her in the Buyer's line up.
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Mike 1:16PM (6/24/2008)
Ford will continue to be a supplier to Land Rover/Jaguar for a period of time. This sounds great that Land Rover is working on a 7-seater that is smaller than the LR3 (Discovery3) and should be more fuel efficient. Plus, with 4 years till release, the fuel economy should be pretty good. A nice option rather than the current "crossover" market wich seems to be fooling the public with redesigned stationwagons with lift kits.
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Wanderer 2:13PM (6/24/2008)
Does anyone know if/when the Defender is coming back to the USA? I read some info a few years ago but nothing new.
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styleguy 4:06PM (6/24/2008)
I would think that because of gas and the weak dollar, a new Defender is out of the question. But this new crossover, at least that's what I'm guessing it'll be, would somewhat improve the average Land Rover has.
Dan 5:23PM (6/24/2008)
It won't be coming back to the US anytime soon. Because of the US regulations on safety that were implemented post 1997, all cars need airbags, anti-lock brakes and so on. Land Rover would have to redo the whole bulkhead on the truck to fit an airbag system and seeing as they haven't changed it since 1983...well you might be out of luck. You can however import 1983 Defender 100s now seeing as they are 25 years old and legal to import now. or just get a NAS defender. thats what I did! good luck.