Land Rover SA has released a special run of Freelanders with special styling and features that move them a long way ahead of the 'Mom's Taxi' tag the Freelander has picked up over the years.
Only 50 Freelander LE's will be made available, at R545 900 each, which gets you a 2.2-litre turbodiesel rated at 140kW and 420Nm, with a second-generation Asin Warner AWF21 automatic transmission.
The special exterior design pack includes a special grille insert, fender vent and a gloss black rear signature strip. It's finished off with deeper front and rear bibs, side sills and a tailgate spoiler, body-colour painted door handles and mirrors, and special, black finished 19” alloy rims.
SPORTY PERSONA
The new sports-style seats (with power adjustments) are finished in black leather with special logos on the head restraints, and matching door panels and dashboard trim.
Luxurious special carpets, silver fascia trims and sports pedals emphasise the LE's sporty persona.
The rest of the kit is as per the 2.2 SD4 HSE derivative, including 'smart charging' that recovers kinetic energy by charging, as far as possible, when the Freelander is on the overrun rather than by stealing engine power when it's accelerating.
Land Rover's proven Terrain Response system sees to traction requirements, whether on rocky 4x4 tracks or slippery summer suburban streets, while seven airbags - two curtain, two front, two thorax and a driver's knee bag - help it achieve a five-star Euro NCAP rating for adult occupant protection.