From December (if you’re a fleet customer) or next May (if you’re a private buyer) you’ll find that diesel-engined Land Rover Freelanders fitted with manual transmission have become surprisingly economical.

These cars will have their names changed slightly from TD4 to TD4_e, and they will be identical in all respects to the current models, with one important exception: they will be fitted as standard with Land Rover’s new Stop/Start technology, which has an important effect on fuel economy and CO2 emissions.

IT’S the same collection of cars from the Auto Express 2007 Used Car Honours, but in a different order! And this year, there was little contest. While the Volvo XC90 is fashionable with lifestyle buyers, the Discovery 3 takes the prize when it comes to off-road prowess.

Land Rover has binned the old Discovery’s breathless five-cylinder diesel in favour of a more refined and frugal V6. Air-suspension makes for an accomplished ride on the road and the steering is pleasant enough.

NO matter what other manufacturers field you cannot deny that the Range Rover is a masterpiece of automotive engineering.

The twin-turbo V8 diesel powered Vogue SE model I drove recently certainly hammered this point home because in the elevated armchair driving position of this great British design you certainly do feel king of the road.

There has been much said of the high cost of vehicles such as this but let’s put it into perspective. The model I drove costs £69,495 - expensive to some. But when you think that a top-end BMW 5 Series Touring model can set you back nearly the same money or a Mercedes-Benz CLS Coupe can cost around £75,000 then the Range Rover suddenly does not seem that over the top.

THE original Land Rover is still personified in the Defender - an almost unstoppable icon that still sells well all over the world.

It’s available in short and long wheelbase variations and I recently re-acquainted myself with the short wheelbase county station wagon at the top of the range.

I swear this machine would climb the wall of a house, claw its way over the roof and let itself gently down the other side.

That’s how good it is off-road, with proper low ratio gears, a differential lock and excellent traction control that stops the wheels spinning.

The iconic British Land Rover has been turned into an £80,000 sports car by two fans of the off-road classic.
The Bell Aurens Longnose – designed by Thomas Bell and fellow enthusiast Holger Kalvelage – will be more powerful than a Ferrari.
Using a long wheel base Land Rover 109, they plan to fit it with a massive V16 engine, slice the top off and revamp the interior.