The SE version launched as a 2008 model earlier this year – but Land Rover is already updating the LR2 compact SUV with a new HSE edition.

The HSE shares all of the basic running gear with the LR2 SE, which TheCarConnection.com reviewed earlier this year. Those basics include a 3.2-liter in-line six-cylinder engine making 230 hp, coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. The combination pushes the LR2 to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, Land Rover says. The transmission features manual gearchanging and a sport mode for better response.

A full-time four-wheel-drive system with a Haldex center differential and Gradient Release Control (as well as standard Terrain Response system on all but base models) form the basis of the LR2′s off-road credentials. However, the system does not include four-wheel-drive Low gearing, as in the previous model.

The exterior of the five-door LR2 resembles its bigger brothers, the LR3 and Range Rover Sport; it’s smoother and less boxy than previously with styling touches such as dual fender vents that first appeared on the Range Rover adding to the more aggressive posture. Both storage and passenger space have increased, too – though the LR2′s exterior dimensions are only slightly larger than the previous Freelander, which the LR2 replaces.

Features and options on both the SE and HSE models include a keyless starter button, bi-xenon headlamps, adaptive front lighting, rain-sensing wipers, and park distance control (front and rear). A two-part panoramic sunroof is also available and air conditioning is standard on all models. A full color touch-screen DVD satellite navigation system is available. The choice of top-level audio systems includes DAB digital radio and twelve-speaker Dolby Pro Logic IIx Surround Sound with fiber-optic interconnects. An auxiliary audio connection (for iPods and other MP3 players) is standard on all versions.

Separating the HSE from the base model is a range of cosmetic upgrades, including body-color bumpers and side sills; a rear spoiler; titanium door handles and 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. Inside, there are new power seats with more adjustments and a storage box complete the upgrades. The HSE goes on sale in November 2007.

This article was take from: The Car Connection

Land Rover owners are kind of like Chicago Cubs Fans. I grew up in Chicago and went to many Cubs games at the nostalgic Wrigley Field. The Chicago Cubs (or Cubbies as we affectionately call them) don’t have a strong winning streak. In fact they haven’t won aworld series since 1908. This doesn’t deter the fans. They continue to buy tickets, and the stands are always full. It’s the ambiance that draws them more than the talent of the team. Wrigley Field is by no means a modern stadium, and there are no lights for night games. That’s the charm. Like the Cubs, the Land Rover brand has pretty much stuck to tradition with vehicles that were neither modern nor showy but continued to perform as expected. Owners know that to purchase a Land Rover means there will undoubtedly be more service appointments and money spent to keep the thing running. It’s a Land Rover, after all, not a Toyota! Off-road enthusiasts will dump even more money into all the accoutrements and beam with pride as they tell stories of how their trusty vehicle made it through a river crossing, over sand dunes and jagged rock crevices, with ease.

TheseLand Rover owners are loyal, predictable folks. They usually have dogs (Labradorsbeing the most common), they love to tell stories (especially about how their Land Rover saved their life … or the life of their dog), they buy and actually wear Land Rover gear (their dogs have Land Rover collars), they like the fact that a Land Rover is not a vehicle meant for speed, and no matter how many times they come into the service department for repairs and maintenance, they continue to buy the brand. They also know all the service staff personally, and they have their favorite mechanics. Now, this may sound like I’m stereotyping and grossly exaggerating, but I worked for Land Rover, and I have experienced the ownership phenomenon. Adding to that I’m a two-time Land Rover Discovery owner as well, and I spend more time and money on repairs than I do on home renovations!

Times change, however, and so has the quality of these workhorse vehicles, for thebetter I might add. Last time I visited the dealership I didn’t see a single LR3 or new Range Rover on the hoists in the service bays. The mechanics were still busy with the old Series I and II Discoverys and pre-2002 Range Rovers, along with a handful of Freelanders.

Now along comes the newest sibling, the 2008 LR2, and from what I can tell there will be lots of proud parents … I mean owners. LR2 is a huge improvement over its predecessor, the Freelander (we affectionately called it the “Freeloader”), which was a bit of a hiccough in the North American market especially. It was a dud before it even arrived on the scene, and as salespeople we couldn’t give them away to customers. We used to joke about throwing in a Freelander when someone bought a new Range Rover. I strongly doubt there will be any of that mockery with this new baby, however.

Right off the mark, there is a noticeable improvement in power due to the new 230 horsepower inline six-cylinder engine. The old Freelanderput out a measly 175 horsepower by comparison. A Variable Valve Timing system ensures that power is always there when you need it, optimizing engine performance and efficiency. With permanent intelligent all-wheel drive, torque can be transferred almost instantly to all four wheels.

Increased power is just the beginning. This new Land Rover boasts some of the most advanced safety engineering around. The transverse placement of the engine creates added space between the hood and powertrain components, contributing to the impact-absorbing ability of the front end. There are seven airbags, including one at the driver’s knee for added protection in the case of a severe frontal impact. A state-of-the-art steel safety cage surrounds the passenger compartment.

In addition to all the passive safety features, the LR2 is equipped with superior braking capabilities enhanced by ABS, Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), and Cornering Brake Control (CBC). If those acronyms aren’t enough, how about RSC – Roll Stability Control, a system that continuously monitors vehicle movement to detect and help prevent rollover. All of this technology will undoubtedly continue to fuel the life-saving stories of Land Rover owners to come.

In the style department, it’s nice to see that the LR2 now looks like the rest of the fleet. I love the power vents in the front fenders. They look great, and they’re functional, aiding in aerating the engine, “so that it breathes more deeply.” The front headlamps and fog lights are also congruent with the other new models, and the clamshell hood is a Land Rover trademark.

Inside, the passenger compartment is quite roomy – another benefit of a transversely mounted inline six engine. I like the simple and uncluttered instrument cluster. And what a view! There is the Command Driving Position, which offers clear sightlines ahead and peripherally. The stadium style rear seats are just slightly higher than those in front, and the side windows are nice and deep. All of this, along with a standard panoramic sunroof creates an extremely open, airy feeling inside the cabin. This can be a big selling feature if you have family members or friends who are prone to car sickness. I took a friend of mine for a drive and asked her to sit in the rear seat to give me feedback on the ride quality. She hesitated because she gets nauseous quite easily, and she didn’t want to “Christen” the pristine vehicle. I urged her to take a risk, and she was happily surprised (so was I, as I didn’t have to take the car to be detailed). She said she has never been able to travel in a vehicle unless she sits in the front. We drove for over half an hour, over some rough terrain, and her stomach didn’t even burble!

After spending most of a week inside this premium SUV, it was time to rate its overall comfort level. It was a fairly typical rainy Saturday when my daughter and I made the trek out to an afternoon field hockey game. All was going well until we got within 10 minutes of our destination, where a recent accident had brought traffic to a standstill. It was tempting to try out the prowess of this capable little Land Rover and drive it off the road along the ditch, but I guessed that sooner or later we’d run into police cars, and I didn’t want to set a bad example for my 11-year old. So we sat in traffic, inching along and amused ourselves by playing “I Spy” and “20 Questions.” When we got bored with that we cranked the tunes. Never have I been disappointed with a Land Rover stereo system, and the LR2 is right up there. The 320-watt Alpine system with nine speakers blasts out the tunes with no distortion.There is also an auxiliary input jack for your iPod or MP3 player. I have to say that if you’re gonna be stuck in traffic, this is a comfortable vehicle to be stuck in. We had great tunes playing, super comfortable seats with seat warmers keeping us toasty, and a clear view all around. The 10-minute drive took 45, but we were no worse for the wear.

Having missed that particular off-roading opportunity, I needed to find another venue that was legal. Fortunately, my husband has some connections with the Parks Department in our city, and we were able to gain access to the back road up one of our local mountains – a steep climb through gravel, dirt, mud and water, and a favorite locale for mountain bikers. It was a perfect day for the test drive – lots of mud, due to the rain, along with loose gravel and some pretty decent puddles to wade through. I was as happy as kid in new Wellingtons! The LR2 did not disappoint.I thoroughly enjoyed playing with the idiot-proof Terrain Response system in all of its four settings. This feature makes off-roading for the novice a cakewalk. It plowed through the mud, making sloppy smooshy sounds, kept its footing on the gravel without spraying it out in every direction and deftly handled the deep ruts and slippery rocks with ease. The potholes and gullies were the most fun, though. I love getting a running start and diving into a ditch, watching the water shoot up onto the windshield. Yep, it was a scene fit for a TV ad. I always say, “Land Rovers look better when they’re dirty.” This little guy, once a pristine silver, had instantly become a gnarly looking deep woods predator – a true Land Rover the way God intended them to be!

Today Land Rovers have become less of the “go anywhere vehicles,” and more of the “be seen in them everywhere vehicles.” Hollywood stars are driving them now, and frankly the charm for us traditionalists has worn off somewhat. When you see the nannies in the west side of our city driving them, the only time they go off road is when they try to parallel park and back up over the curb. And it drives me crazy to see a Range Rover all pimped out with spinners. It’s sacrilege! However, I’m part of a dying breed. There are far more Land Rovers in shopping malls than there are in the untamed wilderness. They have become domesticated. Still, the attraction of the brand is strong, albeit to a slightly different audience. To this end, the LR2 is a nice addition to the family. It’s got all the markings of a true-bred Land Rover, and it’s a real pleasure to drive.

This article was taken from: automobile.com

Greater ability both on-road and off-road plus increased comfort, performance and refinement are among the major improvements introduced for the Land Rover Defender for 2007. A new 2.4-litre diesel engine offers increased torque and improved driveability while the new six-speed gearbox provides a lower first gear ratio, for better off-road control, and a high sixth gear for improved cruising refinement. Inside the vehicle, a new facia improves ergonomics, whilst new seating improves comfort for all occupants, from the four-seat Defender 90 to the five-seat 110 and 130 models. A seven-seat Defender 110 is also available.

The latest in a long line of evolutionary updates to a vehicle whose roots date back to 1948 (since when nearly 1.9 million units have been sold), the 2007 model year changes maintain Defender’s relevance while enhancing its functionality, versatility and durability.

Since the current model’s introduction in 2002, Defender has consistently sold an average of 25,000 units a year worldwide. Retail and utility customers, armed forces and NGOs in over 100 countries value Defender’s class-leading blend of towing and load-carrying versatility, alongside the vehicle’s extraordinary strength, robustness and capability. The unique combination of these attributes helps account for the model’s exceptionally high standards of customer loyalty.

Land Rover managing director Phil Popham said: “We’re building on Defender’s success with a package of improvements that will extend its off-road abilities even further, while transforming on-road refinement and comfort. These changes represent a significant vote of confidence in a product which is the foundation of Land Rover’s reputation for off-road excellence; we believe these enhancements will win the hearts and minds of new and existing customers alike.”

This article was taken from: Truck Trend

The 4×4 world has been set alight with three high-octane off-roaders revealed in the last week.

In recent days we’ve published details of a rabid Porsche Cayenne, a 480bhp Arden Range Rover Sport and now Hamann have joined the battle.

The Hamann Range Rover Sport Conqueror has had power boosted from 385bhp to 475bhp and pulling power upped by 10 per cent to 449lb/ft.

The German tuners haven’t revealed performance figures, but we’d expect the Conqueror to accelerate from 0-60mph in seven seconds and have a top speed of around 170mph.

Power has been increased by modifying the supercharger and fitting an uprated sports exhaust.

Stopping power is also improved with a set of beefy 380mm brake discs.

And the SUV has been pimped up with an aerodynamic, but butch-looking bodykit and mammoth 23-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, Hamann have customised the Conqueror with lavish leather seats and a carbon fibre centre console.

In recent months, Hamann have also tweaked the new BMW X5 and Lamborghini Murcielago LP640.

This article was taken from: Auto Trader

A seven-seat version of the Land Rover Free­lander 2 is on the drawing board, Auto Express has learned. Set to join the regular five-seat variant in around 18 months’ time, the more practical model is being prepared to help the range compete with new rivals such as the Peu­geot 4007 and Chevrolet Captiva.

Although company bosses are currently denying such a car exists, our sources have revealed that changes to the 4×4’s cabin are likely to see a pair of occasional chairs introduced in the boot – a feature its challengers already offer.

Measuring 4,500mm, the Freelander is only 45mm shorter than the Peugeot and, thanks to its long wheelbase, the boot has 1,670 litres of space – easily enough to accommodate the extra chairs. The load area may need to be remodelled to ensure the new seating provides sufficient legroom. However, what is less clear is exactly what specification the seven-seater model will be offered in, or whether the arrangement will simply be supplied as an optional extra.

At present, a total of nine different versions of the Free­lander are available, powered by a choice of just two engines: a 2.2-litre diesel and a 3.2-litre six-cylinder petrol. Trim levels, comprise S, GS, XS, SE and HSE. As with the bigger, seven-seat Discovery, it is unlikely that entry-level Freelanders, badged either S or GS, would come with the additional accommodation. Instead, the extra chairs are likely to be reserved for flagship SE and HSE models.

This article was taken from: Auto Express