Land Rover goes micro

NEXT year’s all-new Freelander will not mark the end of Land Rover’s comprehensive model renewal and expansion program, judging by comments made by global managing director Mathew Taylor in Tokyo last week.

Fresh from launching its third-generation Discovery, a facelifted Range Rover flagship and the all-new X5-rivalling Range Rover Sport in Australia this year, Land Rover could be poised to add a sixth model line to its product portfolio – in the shape of a totally new micro-4WD.

"Do we want a sub-Freelander model? Will it make money? I think there’s a big future in models like those and we’re looking at it closely," Mr Taylor told GoAuto at the Tokyo motor show.

If approved, a sub-compact off-roader is unlikely to emerge from the British 4WD maker until after the second-generation Freelander compact 4WD’s global release in 2006.

Mr Taylor said the company will also focus on weight-saving technologies for its next-generation 4WD models – and the redesigned Freelander is likely to be the first beneficiary.

"We’re also looking at weight-saving strategies for our replacement cycles. (But) we understand our niche and want to do this while maintaining our brand values," he said.

"Fuel economy is a value for everyone, but more so for Freelander-type buyers than Range Rover customers.

"Discovery is less affected because it’s in an aspirational segment that people strive to get into. And the TDV6 delivers outstanding performance and economy." Mr Taylor said Land Rover was also developing alternative fuel technology for its future models.

"We’re already working on alternatives – not in terms of the type of vehicle because SUV is our hallmark and we have a clear brand identity ... (but) we have to work more on things like mild hybrids – probably diesel hybrids, not full hybrids, with some type of stop/start regeneration capability.

"Full hybrids don’t fulfil the off-road promise we stand for. So how do we add sportiness?" he said.