The new Freelander 2 TD4 'e' is Land Rover's most fuel-efficient vehicle to date.
Featuring a new intelligent stop/start system, it is the first production vehicle to incorporate technologies from the company's programme of sustainable engineering initiatives, collectively named ' e Terrain Technologies '.
On the standard EU4 cycle, the CO2 emissions of the Freelander 2 TD4 e are reduced by eight per cent, according to the manufacturer's estimate. This is compared with the outgoing manual diesel Freelander 2. Moreover, in additional tests, Land Rover tells us its engineers have measured fuel savings approaching 20 per cent in heavy urban traffic.
The eight per cent improvement equates to a CO2 emissions reduction of 15g/km compared with the standard Freelander 2 TD4 manual (from 194g/km to 179g/km ). In terms of fuel efficiency, consumption is estimated by Land Rover to be improved from 37.7mpg to 41.3mpg.
These gains, coupled with the added benefits of the gearshift indicator light, software developments, and efficiencies from low-rolling-resistance tyres, make the Freelander 2 TD4 e the most fuel-efficient production Land Rover has built.
A senior Land Rover spokesman said: "The Stop/Start Freelander 2 is the first production vehicle to benefit from the massive £700 million investment in sustainable technologies by Jaguar and Land Rover. From mid-2009, the stop/start feature will be included as standard on all Freelander 2 TD4 manual models, with no associated increase in list prices."
Land Rover's new Stop/Start system improves fuel efficiency in urban and stop-start driving. The vehicle automatically shuts down the engine in appropriate conditions, resulting in zero tailpipe emissions and saving fuel that would otherwise be used idling the engine when stationary. When the driver is ready to move off, the engine instantly re-starts.
Sophisticated controls ensure that the stop/start system does not compromise the needs of either the driver or the vehicle. For the engine to shut down, the vehicle must be stationary, the gearbox in neutral and the clutch pedal raised. To restart, the driver simply depresses the clutch and the enhanced starter motor engages the engine, ready for when first gear is selected.
The stop/start system is automatically activated each time the ignition is turned on, although there is a switch on the fascia to disable the system, if the driver so desires.
In additition, the Freelander 2 TD4 e includes a series of additional enhancements that help to deliver fuel economy and CO2 benefits.
A new gearshift indicator light in the instrument pack advises the driver when to change gear if a higher gear will allow the vehicle to operate more fuel-efficiently. This is calculated by the Freelander 2 TD4e's fully mapped engine.
Software developments to the driveline systems on the Freelander 2 TD4 e generate CO2 benefits without reducing Land Rover's renowned capability.
Land Rover engineers are also collaborating with tyre suppliers to drive improvements to fuel economy through reduced rolling losses. Tyre characteristics including rolling resistance are optimised for the entire range of available tyre sizes on Freelander 2 models.
