"Freelander 2's body is almost twice as stiff as some
competitors'. This helps its on-road handling and refinement, its
off-road toughness, and its all-round safety." Andrew Foster, chief
programme engineer.
With over 28,000 Nm/degree of static stiffness, the Freelander 2
has one of the stiffest bodies of any car; it is almost twice as
stiff as some competitors. Excellent stiffness provides the
necessary basis for great ride and handling, because there is
minimal flex during hard cornering or on rough roads. It also helps
deliver excellent vehicle refinement and safety.
Freelander 2 uses a monocoque construction. Ultra-high-strength
steel is used more extensively than in any previous Land Rover, in
the door beams and for various strengthening reinforcements. DP600
dual-phase steel - which requires special pressing because of its
strength - is used for the A-posts, lower sills, cantrails, front
side members and dash to help provide a first-class,
weight-efficient safety cell.
Many of the bolt-on components fitted during final assembly also
help improve structural integrity. A fully integrated front-end
structure not only carries the cooling pack and front bumper, but
also substantially boosts the overall body stiffness. Even the
bonnet-locking platform has been designed to help boost structural
integrity, ensuring good load transfer from one front crash rail to
the other.
A double bulkhead in the engine bay improves powertrain
isolation and provides a clean area for components such as the ABS
modulator, brake servo and wiper system.
Freelander 2 is marginally longer - by 50 mm - than the outgoing
Freelander. Width is increased by 109 mm, and height is increased
by 32 mm.
Safety
The Freelander 2's long list of primary safety features - not least
its responsive handling, strong brakes and 4x4 system - helps the
driver avoid hazards. The high 'command view' seating position
provides visibility over traffic and a clearer view on rain-lashed
roads.
Secondary safety starts with the strong monocoque body and its
inner 'safety cell'. Front and rear crumple zones are designed to
help absorb as much energy as possible during an impact.
Side-impact protection is further assisted by the
ultra-high-strength steel door beams, the strong and deep door
sills (bigger on a 4x4 than on a conventional car) and the raised
seat position. Other key features include strong facia cross-rails,
which help minimise the risk of the A-pillars spreading during an
impact, and the new Roll Stability Control system.
Front seat belts have pre-tensioners, and all Freelander 2
models feature seven airbags. The driver and passenger front
airbags are designed to help provide head and chest protection and
the front side airbags to protect against side impacts. Full-length
curtain airbags in the roof side structure are designed to help
protect against head injury and roll-over ejection for front and
rear occupants. An inflatable knee bolster helps protect the driver
against leg injury from the steering column.
Exterior Protection
Freelander 2 uses 100 per cent double-sided zinc-coated steel
panels, as part of the most sophisticated anti-corrosion and paint
treatment ever used on a Land Rover. An unlimited-mileage,
three-year paint-surface warranty and six-year anti-corrosion
warranty are provided with the vehicle.
As a true 4x4, Freelander 2 is designed to be able to brush off
knocks and scuffs. Vulnerable areas of the car, including the sills
and lower doors, are coated in a tough thermoplastic cladding. The
cooling pack is protected by a strong thermoplastic undertray,
while a structural steel undertray protects the engine. Bumpers are
made from high-pressure injection-moulded mineral-reinforced
polypropylene. They have excellent stability in very hot or cold
conditions, and good scratch and impact resistance.
Jewel-Like and Effective Lamps
The wrap-around headlamps of Freelander 2 are handsome and rugged,
and offer a choice of different technologies.
The standard halogen lamps have impact-resistant polycarbonate
lenses, and offer a lifetime resistance to scratching (invaluable
when off-roading). The lens is bonded to the lamp body to guarantee
a watertight seal. The headlamp units have a Gore-Texô
membrane, which allows ventilation without letting in water, to
help avoid condensation when wading. H7 halogen bulbs are also
available, giving a light output closer to natural daylight.
Freelander 2 is also available with High Intensity Discharge
(HID) projector lamps, creating crisp blue-white spectrum light.
The bulbs are filled with a mixture of noble gases (including
xenon). HID lights produce 200 per cent more light than a halogen
unit while consuming only half as much electrical power. They also
last up to 10 times longer. The HID system includes automatic
headlamp levelling, to ensure the optimum light pattern
irrespective of vehicle load.
Optional Adaptive Front Lighting (AFS) is designed around the
xenon units. The lamps swivel with the direction of travel, to help
improve the driver's view of the road ahead. Headlamp powerwash is
standard on all models.
Rear lamp units are chunky one-piece clusters, incorporating
tail-lamps, brake lights, indicators and reversing lights. As with
the headlamps, the design is jewel-like, an impression heightened
by the high-gloss polymethyl methacrylate lenses, which also offer
excellent scratch resistance.
Large Glass Areas
The generous areas of glass on Freelander 2 offer excellent
all-round visibility. Front and side windows are wide and deep. An
optional two-part panoramic sunroof increases the bright and airy
feel of Freelander 2's cabin. The front section lifts and slides
back over the second-row glass roof panel.
Large door mirrors further improve the field of view. Standard
on all models is rain-sensing windscreen wipers that work via
infra-red technology.