Land Rover unveiled its most fuel efficient vehicle ever at the Paris
Motor Show - the Freelander 2 TD4_e which introduces the
manufacturer’s new intelligent Stop/Start system.
Freelander 2 TD4_e is the first production vehicle to incorporate technologies from the company's programme of sustainable engineering initiatives, collectively named 'e_TERRAIN TECHNOLOGIES'.
Vehicle highlights include:-
- Fuel consumption improved by 3.8 mpg
- CO2 emissions reduced by almost eight per cent* over the standard EU4 drive cycle
- New gearshift indicator light signals when a higher gear will allow the vehicle to operate more fuel-efficiently
- The first Land Rover model to achieve full End of Life Vehicle Certification
- Land Rover engineers measured fuel savings approaching 20 per cent in heavy urban traffic
- The 8 per cent improvement equates to a CO2 emissions reduction of 15 g/km compared with the standard Freelander 2 TD4 manual (from 194 g/km to 179 g/km*). In terms of fuel efficiency, consumption is improved from 37.7 mpg to 41.3 mpg*.
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.
End of Life Vehicle Certification
The Freelander 2 is the first Land Rover to achieve compliance with the 'EU Directive 2005/64/EC on the type approval of motor vehicles with regard to their reusability, recyclability and recoverability' ahead of forthcoming legislation. This refers to the fact that 85 per cent of the vehicle is reusable or recyclable, while a further 10 per cent by mass is recyclable or recoverable.
Land Rover e-Terrain Technologies
The Freelander 2 TD4_e is just one element of Land Rover's comprehensive green technology roadmap, which will drive the company to increasingly lower emissions and more sustainable technologies in the coming years. This is a key part of the £700 million investment in sustainable technologies being made by Jaguar and Land Rover.
Land Rover engineers are working on a series of advanced propulsion technologies and lightweight structures aimed at bringing CO2 emissions down to class-leading levels. This doesn't mean sacrificing core Land Rover values: the renowned all-terrain capabilities of its future vehicles could actually be improved by some of the exciting new powertrain technologies, such as the Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) announced at the British International Motor Show in London earlier this year.
The company's ambitious programme for continuing CO2 reduction stretches well into the future. For example, Land Rover is developing future hybrid and other green technologies in conjunction with the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board (TSB).