23 Jun 06
The Freelander 2 has been designed to be instantly recognisable as a Land Rover and takes many of its design cues from other models in the stable. Features such as the wing-mounted air intakes, a body-coloured windscreen pillar, the dark B-pillar, wraparound rear window, clamshell bonnet and 'floating' roof are all current Land Rover design cues from Discovery to Range Rover.
Earl Beckles - the lead exterior designer of the Freelander working within the design team headed by Geoff Upex - has been working on the Freelander 2's design for five years, drawing the initial sketches in 2001. He has also worked on the Range Stormer and Land_e concept cars. Speaking about the design of the Freelander, he is keen to point out the car's 'wedge-like stance and attack' and that there are 'no purely vertical lines on the car'.
The new Freelander is bigger in all dimensions than the car it replaces - 50mm longer, 109mm wider and 32mm taller. But its overall feel is not one of a hardcore off-roader, such as the Discovery with its slab-sided and imposing stance. Instead, the Freelander has a more sedate car-like feel. This is intentional, as Land Rover hopes to tempt conventional saloon drivers out of their cars and into a Freelander, drivers who might be put off by more traditional hard-edged designs. It does however retain its off-road ability with a long wheelbase, short overhangs and significant ground clearance.
Some design elements have been carried over from the old Freelander, such as the proud nose of the front bumper and the stepped roof at the rear to give more space inside. Areas that have changed radically from the old model include the roof-hinged boot, a result of which means the spare wheel is now mounted underneath the boot floor. And instead of the old model's small rear light clusters, bumper-mounted indicators and externally mounted centre brakelight, the rear lights are now one single unit and don't look too dissimilar to the Range Rover Sport's with their jewel-like detailing.
The bottoms of the doors are plastic rather than metal, which protects them from scratches when off-roading. They also wrap over the side sills of the car, meaning you can get in and out of the car with muddying your trousers.
