February 15, 2001

Toronto gets first look at all-new Land Rover Freelander

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Toronto, Ontario - Attendees of the 2001 Canadian International Auto Show will get an early look at the all-new Freelander, a compact, premium Land Rover sport-utility vehicle that makes its Canadian debut later this year.

Land Rover's Freelander, the first all-new Land Rover in seven years, will go on sale in North America during the fourth quarter of this year.

The smallest Land Rover yet, the 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.

In addition, Land Rover's flagship Range Rover model, is available in two trim levels for the 2001 model year: 4.6 SE and 4.6 HSE. All Range Rover models are equipped with 4.6-litre V8 engines; permanent four-wheel drive; four-channel, all-terrain Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS); four-wheel Electronic Traction Control (4ETC); and fully-adjustable Electronic Air Suspension (EAS) systems. Also standard on all Range Rover 4.6 SE models are a dual-zone automatic climate control system; a tilt-and-slide glass sunroof; leather seating surfaces; 16-inch alloy wheels; a six-disc CD auto-changer; and a 300-watt harman/kardon audio system with 12 speakers. Range Rover 4.6 HSE models add distinctive 18-inch alloy wheels with low-profile tires; an on- and off-road-capable Global Positioning System (GPS); and an incredible 460-watt audio system. Pricing for Range Rover models starts at $89,000 MSRP.

Land Rover's Discovery Series II model is available in SD, LE and SE trim levels for the 2001 model year. Like the Range Rover, Discovery Series II is equipped with permanent four-wheel drive; a four-channel, all-terrain Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); four-wheel Electronic Traction Control (4ETC); Hill Descent Control (HDC); and a dual-zone automatic climate control system. Top-of-the-line Discovery Series II SE models are available with Active Cornering Enhancement (ACE); as well as a Self-Leveling Suspension (SLS) system; and seven-passenger seating. All models include heated windshield and heated seats. SE models feature dual tilt-and-slide power glass sunroofs and 6-disc CD auto-changers as standard equipment. Discovery Series II models, like all Land Rovers, are built to provide superb driving performance both on- and off-road. Pricing for Discovery Series II models starts at $47,000 MSRP.

Accessories for Land Rovers are called the Land Rover Vehicle Kit. These include brush bars; running boards; driving lights; roof racks; and alloy wheels that have been engineered specifically for Land Rover vehicles. Land Rover Vehicle Kit accessories and pricing are available through all of the 16 Land Rover retailers located in Canada.

Further information about Land Rover products and retailers is available in the U.S. section of Land Rover's official web site: www.landrover.com.

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