Rovering with a Freelander

Want to rough it out in the desert with a machine that can withstand any unpredictable driving condition, try out the latest edition of the Land Rover Freelander which is powerful, stylish and user-friendly... ideal for some driving thrills

For faithful Land Rover enthusiasts, the waiting is over at last. The 2002 Land Rover Freelander has arrived on our shores, here in the UAE and in other regions of the Middle East.

The latest version of the Freelander - which was declared the 'SUV of the Year' in Europe after its introduction in 2000, is an exciting evolution of the original versions.

There are three trim options available in the range: Standard; Sport and Luxury.

The Sport Pack includes Evolution 17-inch sport alloy wheels and a seat trim that is half Alcantara material and half leather - a unique feature for this class of vehicle.

Also included in the Sport Pack is the option of a sun-roof and roof bars.

The Luxury Pack for the 2002 Freelander, features Trek 17-inch alloy wheels which echo the style of 'big brother' Range Rover's top of the range models.

There are also full leather seats and steering wheel in a choice of Balsk or Smokestone leather. The options with the Luxury Pack include sun-roof, roof bars, dual airbags, cruise control and an illuminated vanity mirror.

Both the Sport and Luxury versions have 6-speaker ICE (In-Car Entertainment) system with an integrated front-loading CD player and audio controls on the steering wheel.

The external styling of the new Freelander has been revised to include a colour change on all exterior mouldings to black.

This includes front and rear bumpers, wheel arches, sill finishers, tail door cladding and the fuel filler cap. The rear indicator lamp lenses located in the rear bumper have been changed to a clear/smoke effect.

The interior changes include the addition of black trim that includes a black centre console and instrument binnacle. The new instrumentation pack includes white graphics with revised fonts on a black background for a more sporty look.

It also features a new microprocessor that provides the driver with the ability to monitor vehicle functions easily as well as acting as a 'gateway' for information flowing between the systems of the vehicle.

Some of the interesting new convenience features include the optional new front and rear cup-holders. The front folding cup-holder is integrated into the centre of the facia and opens at the touch of a button to reveal receptacles for two beverage containers.

The rear retractable cup-holder is built into the centre armrest and can also cope with two containers.

Both cup-holders are capable of taking containers of any size - including 'gulp'-size cups!
Another new feature for 2002 is a Becker Satellite Navigation System.

This is packaged in a DIN-size head unit that offers premium sound quality with dual mode CD player that can interpret navigation and audio CDs. The display shows key navigational data and offers visual and audio guidance.

The Satellite Navigation System ID, offered as a factory-fit option, is available for countries that have software coverage, including North America and Western Europe. The early sales successes of the Freelander can only be enhanced even further with the availability of the very latest 2002 model line-up.

The Freelander is available in 3 and 5-door versions as a hardtop and as a 3-door soft-top.