"Freelander 2 is a fresh and contemporary design, with its
chiselled lines, chunky good looks and sporty energy. Though the
genes of the highly successful original Freelander are still
clearly recognisable, the new model looks more premium and more
grown-up, without losing its sense of fun." Geoff Upex, design
director.
Chiselled lines, smooth and simple surfaces and interlocking
elements were three of the key principles that guided the Land
Rover design team as they crafted the all-new Freelander 2. These
combined well with the vehicle's near-ideal proportions -
especially the height, long wheelbase, and short front and rear
overhangs - to create the purposeful, sporty stance that the
designers wanted.
Upex and his team, including Earl Beckles (lead exterior
designer) and Martin Buffery (lead interior designer), were also
determined to develop a vehicle with clear family links to Land
Rover's successful new Discovery 3 and best-selling Range Rover
Sport. From the Discovery, according to Geoff Upex, "we took the
simplicity of the surfacing, the strong shapes, the bold and
consistent graphics, and the strong rear D-post styling. Range
Rover Sport inspired the flow of the wheel arches, a lot of the
stance, and the dynamics of the waistline.
"But there are also clear visual references to the original
Freelander. Its distinctive shape is widely recognised and popular,
especially in Europe," says Upex. "So we took the best bits, the
real signatures from that car, and enhanced them. These include the
clamshell bonnet and the stepped roof."
However, these inspirations were subordinate to a clear vision
of how a vehicle such as Freelander should look. While still
definitively a Land Rover, it has always had - and needed to retain
- a strong appeal to customers more used to conventional saloon
cars.
"The design of Freelander 2 had to reflect its balance of
capabilities - as a great road car and a great 4x4," says Geoff
Upex. "This was absolutely at the top of our minds. It could not be
too overt a 4x4, in the way that a Discovery is. It had to be tough
- but not too tough. It had to reassure people trading up from
premium cars. So this balance - tough 4x4 versus premium car - was
crucial in the design language."
According to Upex, 4x4s typically look more geometric, more
aggressive and harder-edged. Cars tend to be more organic - and
friendlier - in form. So the Freelander 2 mixes strong geometric
shapes and flowing, car-like softness.
The fast-angled windscreen, the raised roof and the tapering
rear pillar all reflect the car's dynamic, sporty on-road
abilities, as does the smooth shoulder line. Also contributing
significantly to the flow of the design are the body-coloured A-
and D-pillars, while the black E-pillars at the rear give a graphic
which resembles the 'floating roof' of Range Rover Vogue.
The body sides on Freelander 2 are sharp and chiselled. But in
the plan view, the surfaces are smooth, sheer and one-directional.
The surfacing is also taut and very defined, to give the vehicle a
lean, muscled look.
The grille is a strong and confident design statement. The rear
is also cleaner, significantly helped by relocating the external
spare wheel of the original Freelander underneath the cargo area
floor, and by the new one-piece tail-lamps.
"The whole design is simple, much less cluttered than before,
more premium and more desirable. We wanted a minimal number of
components that interlock to form a meaningful and attractive
whole," says Geoff Upex. "The headlamps and tail-lamps, for
instance, are watch-like in their detailing. The metallic
side-vents help engine breathing, but also provide a strong family
link with both Discovery 3 and Range Rover Sport."
As always with a Land Rover, functionality is a fundamental
driver of the design. The narrow front A-posts help achieve
excellent all-round visibility. The bonnet castellations help the
driver place the vehicle more accurately on the road or track. The
wheel-out stance and wide track help deliver agile handling and
great grip. The short front and rear overhangs and high underbody
are essential for go-anywhere off-road performance. The body-side
protection guards against stone chips and helps keep the sills
clean.
"We believe the end result is a design that is sculptured and
sophisticated, dynamic yet refined, premium and tough," says Geoff
Upex.