The Land Rover Freelander 2 has been given a mild overhaul for 2013 with a fresh exterior design,upgraded equipment levels including features from the Range Rover Evoque and a new turbocharged petrol engine.
The mid-life refresh is intended to act as a global sales booster for the Land Rover Freelander 2?following the success of its Range Rover Evoque sister,which has seen over 150,000 units roll out of the Halewood factory in just 12 months.
Exterior changes to the Freelander 2 are subtle,headlined by the adoption of front and rear LED lamp technology with a new signature daytime running light design.
Other enhancements up front include a new bright finish for the Freelander's grille and fog lamp surrounds and more body-coloured paint detailing for the front grille surround,insert bars and front guard vent for a more premium finish.
Inside there are bigger changes with the new Freelander 2 boasting higher equipment levels than the outgoing model,including a new centre console with simpler switches in place of Land Rover's original Terrain Response dial.
Cabin space has been improved with the addition of an electric parking brake that adjusts brake force depending on the angle of slope the vehicle is parked on.For safety reasons the brake remains inoperable unless the driver's seat is occupied.
For the first time the Freelander introduces a seven-inch touchscreen on HSE models with an integrated a rear-view camera.The system also features Hitch Assist,which superimposes a graphic on the screen showing the position of the tow ball.
Push-button start replaces the old key docking system and Bluetooth phone and audio streaming are now standard across the model range.
The new satellite navigation system(standard on HSE models)features a faster hard drive system with Eco route planning,dynamic zoom,visual lane guidance and POI(point of interest management).
Land Rover has also updated the Freelander's'Say What You See'voice activation system,which now displays step-by-step visual prompts to control audio,navigation,climate and phone.
The entry-level audio system has been upgraded to an 80-watt eight-speaker unit mated to a five-inch colour screen,while optional systems include the choice of either a 380-watt or 825-watt Meridian system with 11 or 17 speakers,respectively.
The Freelander 2 also introduces a brand new 177kW/340Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine to replace the previous six-cylinder normally aspirated powerplant.
First used in the Evoque(and a different tune of the engine fitted to the Ford Falcon EcoBoost),the Si4 GTDi engine is 40kg lighter than the unit it replaces and emits an average of 224g/km CO2,meeting Euro V regulations.The new engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with full-time four-wheel drive.
The new Land Rover Freelander 2 range is differentiated by trim level rather than the choice of powertrains.Entry-level is the 2.2-litre TD4 manual with cloth seats from$42,300,plus on-road costs.
Stepping up to the TD4 SE adds full leather trim,reversing camera,the Meridian sound system and gloss black grille surround from$54,100.
The range-topping HSE gains six-/four-way(driver/passenger)electrically adjustable grained leather seats and wood interior for$64,500.
There are five option packs available with the new Freelander 2 range including Clearview,Cold Climate,Design,Leather and SE Luxury.
The Clearview pack is available on all but the HSE models and includes automatic xenon headlamps and wipers.
The Cold Climate pack is optional on all six Freelander 2 variants and includes driver and front passenger heated seats,heated windscreen and washer jets and heated steering wheel.
The Design pack is available only on the entry-level TD4 and?includes headlamp powerwash jets and?body-coloured side mirrors,sill covers,door handles and?rear bumper.
The Leather pack(also TD4-only)includes leather seats and steering wheel,heated and auto-folding side mirrors with approach lamps,front arm rests and a rear centre armrest.
The Luxury pack is available across SE trim levels and includes grained leather seats with driver's memory,tailgate spoiler and carpet mats.
The 2013 Land Rover Freelander 2 is available from December.
2013 Land Rover Freelander 2 pricing:
2.2 TD4 manual:$42,300 2.2 TD4 SE auto:$54,100 2.2 SD4 SE auto:$56,600 2.0 Si4 SE auto:$55,600 2.2 SD4 HSE auto:$64,500 2.2 SD4 HSE Luxury auto:$68,400
