When Land Rover announced the introduction of the LR2, WRTV was there and now gives the WRTV faithful a look at what Land Rover Global Marketing Director Phil Popham had to say at the press conference. The LR2 is known by most Europeans as the Freelander, however for its North American debut, Land Rover marketed it as the LR2. This SUV bears the Land Rover name meaning that it not only performs well on the road, but off it as well. The LR2 is fitted with the same Terrain Response system as its big brothers, the Discovery and Range Rover. This system allows the driver to operate the vehicle on tough terrain with safety and ease. The LR2's permanent All Wheel Drive system ensures that off-road performance is not compromised even when on streets.
Unlike some smaller SUV's, the LR2 has ample room for five adult passengers. This is accomplished with help from Ford's EUCD platform, from which the LR2 is based. Land Rover claims that the narrowed front A-posts allow for increased visibility, especially when parking, while at the same time delivering a wider stance that helps handling. Power comes from a 3.2 L transversely-mounted Inline-Six cylinder engine from Volvo that delivers 230 horsepower. And although the LR2 isn't blazingly fast with its 8.4 second zero to 60 time, it does deliver good performance for an SUV of this size. Other available options not mentioned include a Cold Climate Package that includes heated seats, windshield and washer jets.
