AIMS: New Rangie leads Land Rover product bonanza

LAND Rover’s Australian International Motor Show stand in Sydney will be a new-product bonanza, led by the all-new all-aluminium Range Rover flagship making its second public appearance fresh from its world debut in Paris.

At the other end of the British SUV specialist’s price range will be the facelifted Freelander, which has been glammed up with a more luxurious, Evoque-inspired interior, exterior tweaks, new colour schemes and a new four-cylinder petrol engine.

The Freelander’s bigger brother, the Discovery 4, will also be present in updated MY2013 trim that brings big fuel efficiency gains due to a new diesel engine and eight-speed automatic transmission.

Representing current Land Rover models on the stand will be the Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Evoque.

The new Freelander will arrive in Australian showrooms before the end of this year, while the Range Rover and Discovery will land in January 2013.

Left: 2013 Land Rover Freelander and Discovery.

With its first ground-up redevelopment of the iconic Range Rover in a decade, Land Rover has attempted to rewrite the rule book with the use of an innovative aluminium monocoque body structure incorporating a one-piece floorpan claimed to be the world’s largest automotive panel.

The entry-level model is 420kg lighter than its predecessor – other variants are 350kg lighter – and the body structure’s 39 per cent weight loss is said to have resulted in it being lighter than that of a BMW 3 Series.

Luxury and refinement levels are up and Land Rover claims the new Rangie will give occupants “a sensation of serene isolation from the hectic world outside”.

An even plusher new interior with simplified dashboard layout that takes the Evoque’s touchscreen-centred design to the next level while boosting the quality of wood, leather and milled aluminium finishes around the cabin.

Rear occupants get more legroom and an optional pair of individual, fully adjustable rear seats can be fitted.

Land Rover’s first production hybrid, combining a diesel engine with an electric motor, will join the Range Rover line-up by the end of next year, claimed to yield fuel efficiency of 6.3L/100km – similar to a Ford Focus.

Entry-level V8 diesels have been supplanted by a more efficient V6 with eight-speed automatic transmission, yielding fuel savings of up to 22 per cent, meaning the 85-litre fuel tank has a theoretical 1150km driving range.

All that aluminium technology and increased luxury comes at a price, with the new Rangie commanding an $8900 premium over the outgoing model at entry level, which hits $168,900 plus on-road costs.

Land Rover is expected to announce pricing of the new Freelander and Discovery at the motor show.