2007 Land Rover Freelander
PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANS G. LEHMANN/HIDDEN IMAGE
November 2005
Ford-owned Land Rover is preparing to launch the redesigned 2007 Freelander. The photo here shows the final shape of the SUV on a virtually undisguised prototype. The Freelander will be bigger, wider, longer, and more upmarket than the current model.
The prototype reveals a wider track and flared wheel arches. The extra height between the bodywork and the wheels shows that the Freelander is riding on an all-new platform. That platform is Ford’s C1, which is a reworked version of what can be found underneath the European-market Focus, the Volvo S40/V50, and the Mazda3.
In accordance with the increased width, the Freelander is expected to switch to a transversely mounted inline six-cylinder engine, expected to be either a 2.8- or 3.0-liter sourced from Volvo. A standard six-speed manual transmission will be sourced from Ford; an automatic transmission will be optional.
The Freelander will be available only as a five-door model; the three-door model has been abandoned.
Source: Car and Driver