Land Rover presented at the Paris Auto Show the new Freelander 2 TD4_e, Land Rover's most fuel-efficient vehicle to date. The fuel savings comes from the combination of using a diesel engine with a stop/start system (stopping the engine while the car is idling) that is becoming popular in frugal European cars.

The CO2 emissions of the Freelander 2 TD4_e are reduced by 8 percent, compared with the outgoing manual diesel Freelander 2. The 8 percent 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. In heavy urban traffic, Land Rover engineers have measured fuel savings as high as 20 percent.

All this environmental friendliness now comes in a car that is 95 percent recyclable. The Freelander 2 TD4_e has not had an announcement for North America sales. Although we are enjoy green technologies and are starting to seek better fuel economy, it's unclear if we are ready to buy diesel Land Rovers on a large scale.

Press release after the jump.

2008 LandRover Freelander 2 TD4_e

Specifications
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  • Model: 2008 LandRover Freelander 2 TD4_e
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Press release

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 8 per cent*, compared with the outgoing manual diesel Freelander 2. Moreover, in additional tests, Land Rover engineers have 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*.

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 ever built.

Phil Popham, Land Rover's managing director, 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 re-start, 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.

Added fuel economy benefits


Along with the intelligent Stop/Start system, 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 TD4_e'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.

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.