VANCOUVER – Attendees of the 2001 Pacific International Auto Show, which opens to the public March 31, will get an early look at the prestigious, all-new Freelander, a compact, premium Land Rover sport-utility vehicle (SUV) that makes its Canadian debut later this year. The much-anticipated Freelander will be accompanied by a full lineup of Land Rover's coveted, British-built four-wheel drive SUVs. Auto show visitors will have the chance to evaluate Land Rover's flagship Range Rover 4.6 HSE, as well as the automaker's Discovery Series II SD and SE vehicle ranges. Land Rover's lineup can be seen at the Pacific International Auto Show through April 7.
FREELANDER
Land Rover's Freelander, the first all-new Land Rover in seven years, makes its Vancouver debut at the 2001 Pacific International Auto Show. Freelander will go on sale in North America during the fourth quarter of this year. The smallest Land Rover yet, Freelander will also be the most prestigious and capable compact sport-utility vehicle ever built. Freelander will be sold in North America as a five-door model equipped with a V6 engine, permanent all-wheel drive, a five-speed Steptronic automatic transmission and a four-channel, all-terrain Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) as standard equipment. Freelander will also feature standard four-wheel Electronic Traction Control (4ETC) and standard Hill Descent Control (HDC). Seventy percent (70%) new when compared to the original Land Rover Freelander that debuted in Europe in 1997, the Canadian-specification Freelander will feature extensive chassis improvements and an all-new 2.4-liter, 24-valve V6 engine that delivers 175 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. Both cloth and leather interior trim packages will be offered and MSRPs for Freelander are expected to start below $40,000.