Land Rover’s all-new premium compact SUV, the Land Rover LR2, is quickly approaching its North American on-sale date. The fourth new model launched from Land Rover in just four years, LR2 joins the impressive line-up of Range Rover (2002), Land Rover LR3 (2004) and Range Rover Sport (2005) that together have seen record-breaking sales performance around the world.
As the latest addition to the world’s leading sport-utility vehicle manufacturer’s line-up, LR2 sets new standards in its segment. New from the ground up, LR2 delivers outstanding on-road performance as well as the class-leading off-road capability of a Land Rover. A dynamic design, purposeful stance, smart and spacious interior, and an abundance of advanced technologies complete the LR2 package that is competitively priced at $34,700 in the U.S.
“LR2 combines the advantages of a premium sedan – such as polished ride, accomplished performance and an attractive cabin – with the attributes of a robust SUV,” says Richard Beattie, executive vice president, marketing and sales, Land Rover North America.
“With its tough go-anywhere ability, stadium seating, cabin versatility and spaciousness, we believe that no other compact SUV gets closer to blending these best-of-both-worlds abilities.”
Technical highlights of the LR2 include a brand-new 3.2-liter inline-six engine featuring advanced technologies to deliver an outstanding combination of performance and economy. The 230bhp* i6 engine provides 0-60 mph acceleration in 8.4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds)*. The engine is matched to a new six-speed automatic transmission, with Land Rover’s CommandShift™ offering manual sequential gear changes when required. There is also a driver-selectable sport mode, for livelier performance.
Inline-six cylinder engine configurations are ideal for delivering a smooth ride, and the compact new unit in LR2 is small enough to mount transversely. The benefits of transverse fitment include improved interior packaging and safety performance.
The interior package of LR2 has generous head, shoulder and legroom, in both the front and rear. Large glass areas emphasize the spacious feel and complement the elevated ‘command driving’ position – a Land Rover hallmark – and ‘stadium seating’, where rear passengers sit slightly higher than front occupants, for a clearer view of the world outside. Cargo space is also among the best in class: 58.9 cu. ft. (1667 liters)* with the rear seats folded and 26.7 cu. ft. (756 liters)* with the rear seats up.
The exterior and interior design of LR2 is completely fresh, integrating the company’s unique design language with a form that is instantly recognizable as the latest Land Rover.
“We purposely kept strong Land Rover design cues, such as the clamshell bonnet, stepped roof and the basic form,” says Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern. “The overall look is new and contemporary. The design is chiseled, geometric and simple – it looks like it’s hewn from the solid. We have kept a close design relationship with the LR3 and Range Rover Sport, but interpreted the design language to suit the requirements of customers for a more compact SUV.”
The body is a five-door monocoque structure, with a high level of torsional rigidity which benefits refinement, comfort and handling on-road as well as ensuring the vehicle is fit for serious off-road use. The suspension is fully independent and uses the most modern stability control systems, including Roll Stability Control (RSC ®), a sophisticated technology that helps mitigate the risk of roll-over even in extreme conditions.
LR2 is packed with new technologies to improve both on-road and off-road performance. Land Rover’s unique Terrain Response™ is standard, making off-road use easier. Other interesting technologies include a new permanent intelligent all-wheel-drive system for superior traction and better on-road fuel economy, and the patented Gradient Release Control, which improves driver confidence and control when releasing the brakes on steep and slippery slopes.
Other features and options include: keyless starter button, bi-xenon headlamps, adaptive front lighting, rain-sensing windshield wipers and rear park distance control. A standard two-part panoramic sunroof increases the cabin’s airiness; air-conditioning also comes standard and a full-color touch-screen DVD satellite navigation system is optional. The Premium Audio System offered features Dolby® Pro Logic® II 7.1 Surround Sound. Complete with 14 speakers, including a sub-woofer, the system is played through an in-dash six-disc CD changer. An auxiliary audio connection (for MP3 players) is standard.
The Land Rover LR2 is designed and engineered by Land Rover at Gaydon, near Warwick, England, and is built at the Halewood plant in Liverpool
INTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES
The interior of LR2 is designed to be elegant and simply structured, a decision made early on by lead interior designer Martin Buffery, who describes it as ‘strong but not intimidating’. Yet the fascia still incorporates clear elements of the iconic architectural vertical and horizontal lines that characterize the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and LR3.
The upper part of the fascia has a soft-touch finish to give a premium appearance and pleasant feel. Switch gear is purposeful and moves with precision. Regularly used controls, such as fascia vents and major switch gear, are within easy reach and have a tactile finish. Upholstery and tufted carpets are high quality, while metallic and wood-effect finishes add further premium touches.
The instrumentation is clear and well displayed. The circular analog gauges are framed with metallic bezels and are neatly grouped directly in front of the driver.
SPACIOUS INTERIOR
The elevated driving position in LR2 – called ‘command view’ by Land Rover – improves visibility and helps the driver feel in control. There’s abundant leg, shoulder and head room – even for the rear seat passengers.
‘Stadium seating’ places the rear seat passengers slightly higher than their front seat counterparts, so they too can enjoy the view. Visibility for all occupants is helped by the narrow front A-pillars, deep front and rear windows, and large side windows.
“There is a real sense of space in LR2,” says Gerry McGovern. “You can stretch out, relax, and it makes the whole ambience so much more enjoyable.”
COMFORTABLE SEATS
LR2’s seats offer good under-thigh and back support, plus strong side bolsters to give excellent lateral support. The front seat frames are similar to those of Range Rover Sport – big-car seats for a cabin that looks as though it belongs in a big car. The upright seating provides a comfortable driving position and increases usable legroom.
Six-way adjustment is standard on all driver seats, including height adjustment to take advantage of the generous roof space. The front passenger seat has four-way adjust. Electric power adjustment and armrests are standard on the LR2’s driver and front passenger leather-trimmed seats. Two-stage seat heating is optional to provide reliable and rapid seat warming in cold environments.
The rear seat is wide enough to accommodate three standard adults, and includes a central armrest. An asymmetrically split design, it double-folds forward to offer a completely flat floor area.
LOTS OF LUGGAGE AND CARGO SPACE
The large cargo area provides plenty of space for luggage or sports equipment, from bicycles to golf clubs. A neat touch is the reversible load floor cover with carpet on one side and a water-resistant surface on the other.
Total luggage volume is 58.9 cu. ft. (1670 liters)* with the rear seats folded forward and 26.7 cu. ft. (755 liters)* when raised. The space was designed from the outset to be as versatile as possible. The high load-space floor avoids the need to bend down to lower items into the cargo area.
SOUND SYSTEMS
The sound systems offered for LR2 are headed by a top-level version that features Dolby ® Pro Logic ® II 7.1 Surround Sound, incorporating a 12×40 W amplifier. It is delivered through 14 speakers, including a sub-woofer, and the system incorporates a six-disc in-dash CD changer. It is also MP3 format compatible.
One rung down – but still highly impressive – is the LR2’s standard system that includes an 8×40 W power output and eight speakers plus sub-woofer. Volume control is automatic, and changes with the car’s speed.
Rear seat headphone sockets are available, allowing rear seat passengers to listen to a different audio source from that of the front seat occupants.
An auxiliary audio input socket for the connection of an MP3 player, iPod, or other source is fitted as standard in the center console.
LR2 is available with a wide array of premium-car equipment, as standard or as options.
Standard features include:
- Keyless starter button
- Panoramic dual-panel top-sliding sunroof
- One-touch up-and-down windows and one-touch-open and –close sunroof
- Front and rear fog lights and power headlamp washers
- Auto headlights and rain-sensing wipers
- Rear Park Distance Control
- Power leather seats
- 18″ alloy wheels
- Cruise control
- Dual-zone automatic temperature controlled air-conditioning, with pollen filter and humidity sensor
Optional features include:
- High-definition color touch-screen DVD satellite navigation
- Bi-xenon Adaptive Front Lighting
- Bluetooth hands-free telephone system to integrate phone control and display with the vehicle
- 14 speaker Dolby ® Pro Logic ® II 7.1 Surround Sound system
- SIRIUS ® Satellite Radio
*Figures are subject to change and will be confirmed at a later date.
DESIGN
- A fresh and premium exterior, designed to reflect both on-road and off-road capabilities
- Long wheelbase and short overhangs help deliver purposeful SUV proportions
- Dynamic stance, chiseled lines and smooth, simple surfaces
- Distinctive Land Rover genes, including clamshell bonnet and stepped roof
- Watch-like detailing in the wrap-around headlamps and tail-lamps
“LR2 is a fresh and contemporary design, with its chiseled lines, chunky good looks and sporty energy.” – Gerry McGovern, design director
Chiseled lines, smooth and simple surfaces and interlocking elements were three of the key principles that guided the Land Rover design team as they crafted the all-new LR2. These combined well with the vehicle’s proportions – especially the height, long wheelbase, and short front and rear overhangs – to create the purposeful, sporty stance that the designers wanted.
McGovern and his team, including Earl Beckles (lead exterior designer) and Martin Buffery (lead interior designer), were also determined to develop a vehicle with clear family links to Land Rover’s successful LR3 and best-selling Range Rover Sport. From the LR3, according to Gerry McGovern, “We took the simplicity of the surfacing, the strong shapes, the bold and consistent graphics, and the strong rear D-post styling. Range Rover Sport inspired the flow of the wheel arches, a lot of the stance, and the dynamics of the waistline.”
“The design of LR2 had to reflect its balance of capabilities – as a great road car and a great SUV,” says McGovern. “This was absolutely at the top of our minds. It could not be too overt a 4×4, in the way that LR3 is. It had to be tough – but not too tough. It had to reassure people trading up from premium cars. So this balance – tough SUV versus premium car – was crucial in the design language.”
According to McGovern, SUVs are typically more geometric, more aggressive and harder-edged. Cars tend to be more organic – and friendlier – in form. So the LR2 mixes strong geometric shapes and flowing, car-like softness.
The fast-angled windshield, the raised roof and the tapering rear pillar all reflect the vehicle’s dynamic, sporty on-road abilities, as does the smooth shoulder line. Also contributing significantly to the flow of the design are the body-colored A- and C-pillars, while the black D-pillars at the rear give a graphic which resembles the ‘floating roof’ of Range Rover.
The body sides on LR2 are sharp and chiseled. But in plain view, the surfaces are smooth, sheer and one-directional. The surfacing is also taut and very defined, to give the vehicle a lean, muscled look.
The grille makes a strong and confident design statement. The rear is clean, with one-piece tail-lights and the external spare wheel positioned underneath the cargo area floor.
“The whole design is simple, uncluttered, premium and desirable. We wanted a minimal number of components that interlock to form a meaningful and attractive whole,” says McGovern. “The headlights and tail-lights, for instance, are watch-like in their detailing. The metallic side-vents help engine breathing, but also provide a strong family link with both LR3 and Range Rover Sport.”
As always with a Land Rover, functionality is a fundamental driver of the design. The narrow front A-posts help achieve excellent all-round visibility. The hood castellations help the driver place the vehicle more accurately on the road or track. The wheel stance and wide track help deliver agile handling and great grip. The short front and rear overhangs and high underbody are essential for go-anywhere off-road performance. The body-side protection guards against stone chips and helps keep the sills clean. “We believe the end result is a design that is sculptured and sophisticated, dynamic yet refined, premium and tough,” says McGovern.
SAFETY
BODY STRUCTURE
“LR2’s body is almost twice as stiff as some competitors’. This helps its on-road handling and refinement, its off-road toughness, and its all-round safety.” – Andrew Foster, chief program engineer
Excellent stiffness provides the necessary basis for great ride and handling, because there is little or no flex during hard cornering or on rough roads. It also helps deliver excellent vehicle refinement and safety.
LR2 uses a monocoque construction. Ultra-high-strength steel is used more extensively than in any previous Land Rover in the door beams and for various strengthening reinforcements. DP600 dual-phase steel – which requires special pressing because of its strength – is used for the A-posts, lower sills, cantrails, front side members and dash to help provide a first class, weight-efficient safety cell.
Many of the bolt-on components fitted during final assembly also help improve structural integrity. A fully integrated front-end structure not only carries the cooling pack and front bumpers, but also substantially boosts the overall body stiffness. Even the hood-locking platform has been designed to help boost structural integrity, ensuring good load transfer from one front crash rail to the other.
A double bulkhead in the engine bay improves powertrain isolation and provides a clean area for components such as the ABS modulator, brake servo and wiper system.
SAFETY
The LR2’s long list of primary safety features – including its responsive handling, strong brakes and permanent all-wheel drive system – helps the driver avoid hazards. The high ‘command view’ seating position provides visibility over traffic and a clearer view on rain-lashed roads.
Secondary safety starts with the strong monocoque body and its inner ‘safety cell’. Front and rear crumple zones are designed to help absorb as much energy as possible during an impact. Side-impact protection is further assisted by the ultra-high-strength steel door beams, the strong and deep door sills (bigger on an SUV than on a conventional car) and the raised seat position.
Front safety belts have pre-tensioners, and all LR2 models feature seven airbags. The driver and passenger front airbags are designed to help provide head and chest protection and the front side airbags to protect against side impacts. Full-length curtain airbags in the roof side structure are designed to help protect against head injury and roll-over ejection for front and rear occupants. An inflatable knee bolster helps protect the driver against leg injury from the steering column.
Pedestrian safety is a high priority, with 2.76-3.54 in (70-90 mm) clearance between the upper hood and under-hood mechanicals in the critical zones. The excellent energy absorbing qualities of the hood further assist pedestrian protection.
EXTERIOR PROTECTION
LR2 uses 100 percent double-sided zinc-coated steel panels, as part of the most sophisticated anti-corrosion and paint treatment ever used on a Land Rover.
As a true SUV, LR2 is designed to be able to brush off knocks and scuffs. Vulnerable areas of the car, including the sills and lower doors, are coated in a tough thermoplastic cladding.
The cooling pack is protected by a strong thermoplastic undertray, while a structural steel undertray protects the engine. Bumpers are made from high-pressure injection-molded mineral-reinforced polypropylene. They have excellent stability in very hot or cold conditions, and good scratch and impact resistance.
JEWEL-LIKE AND EFFECTIVE LIGHTS
The wrap-around headlights of LR2 are handsome and rugged, and offer a choice of different technologies.
The standard H7 halogen lamps have impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses, and offer a lifetime resistance to scratching (invaluable when off-road use). They also give a light output closer to natural daylight. The lens is bonded to the light body to guarantee a watertight seal. The headlight units have a Gore-Tex membrane, which allows ventilation without letting in water, to help avoid condensation when wading.
LR2 is also available with High Intensity Discharge (HID) projector lamps, creating crisp blue-white spectrum light. The bulbs are filled with a mixture of noble gases (including xenon). HID lights produce 200 percent more light than a halogen bulb while consuming only half as much electrical power. They also last about 10 times longer. The HID system includes headlight power-washers and automatic headlight leveling, to help ensure the optimum light pattern irrespective of vehicle load.
Optional Adaptive Front Lighting (AFS) is designed around the xenon units. The lights swivel with the direction of travel, to help the driver see the road ahead.
Rear lamp units are chunky one-piece clusters, incorporating tail-lights, brake lights, indicators and reversing lights. As with the headlights, the design is jewel-like, an impression heightened by the high-gloss polymethyl methacrylate lenses, which also offer excellent scratch resistance.
LARGE GLASS AREAS
The generous areas of glass on LR2 offer excellent all-around visibility. Front and side windows are wide and deep. A standard two-part panoramic sunroof increases the bright and airy feel of LR2’s cabin. The front section lifts and slides back over the second-row glass roof panel.
Large door mirrors further improve the field of view. An electrically heated front windshield and heated washer jets are available. Rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights, both of which work via infra-red technology, are standard on all models.
SPECIAL FEATURES
DRIVING DYNAMICS
“The all-new LR2 has been engineered to inspire driver confidence and passenger comfort over a wide variety of conditions and surfaces, from sporty on-road driving to off-road mud-plugging. Our goal was to create a driving experience that felt just as good to someone trading-up from a conventional sedan as it did to an experienced 4×4 specialist.” – Mike Cross, chief engineer, vehicle integrity
Land Rover’s engineers’ objectives for the driving dynamics of LR2 were to combine on-road behavior that is agile, predictable and refined, with class-leading off-road ability. Their comprehensive approach started with the design of the base suspension system, and then was supplemented by innovative technologies such as an intelligent permanent all-wheel drive system, Land Rover’s patented Terrain Response system, and sophisticated traction and stability systems. Key contributors to achieving excellent on-road performance were the new, fully independent suspension system – coil-sprung struts front and rear – and an exceptionally stiff body using front and rear sub-frames. Front and rear anti-roll bars provide excellent anti-roll control.
The responsive rack-and-pinion steering is direct and fluid, with just 2.6 turns lock-to-lock. Rigidly mounted to the front sub-frame to improve lateral stiffness, the steering column and wheel is adjustable for reach and rake.
“The LR2 is also a revelation on-road,” says Land Rover’s chief engineer, vehicle integrity, Mike Cross. “Some sporty SUVs are more firmly sprung, but where LR2 really scores is in its mix of agility, responsiveness and ride comfort. It is never harsh, but is always a rewarding and predictable vehicle to drive hard.”
On-road ride comfort has been a key consideration, and LR2 excels – due to its supple long-travel suspension, its excellent torsional body stiffness, its isolated (rubber-mounted) front and rear sub-frames, and its large-diameter gas damper struts.
Off-road it is a Land Rover. Its capability starts with 8.26 in (210 mm) minimum of ground clearance to overcome rocky, sandy, rutted or muddy terrain. This also helps LR2 to wade through water up to 19.68 in (500 mm) deep – better than most rivals. Approach and departure angles are also excellent.
INTELLIGENT PERMANENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM
An innovative intelligent permanent all-wheel drive system is fundamental to delivering Land Rover’s legendary breadth of capability. Its front-rear torque split varies continuously to suit dynamic conditions. Only a small amount of torque is fed to the rear wheels under normal conditions, such as on a straight paved road, but in tough off-road situations, almost all the engine torque can be fed to the rear wheels, if required. This is an ideal arrangement that always offers maximum grip in difficult conditions, yet minimizes rear drive – and therefore rotational losses and, in turn, fuel consumption – when not required.
“The torque balance adapts continuously,” says chief program engineer Andrew Foster. “So, for example, if you encounter mud or snow on the road, torque distribution between front and rear can be adjusted, to give you optimal traction and primary safety at all times.”
The intelligent permanent all-wheel drive system has been developed in conjunction with Haldex, whose acclaimed center-coupling technology continuously alters the front-rear torque split, normally through a hydraulically operated multi-plate wet clutch.
However, Land Rover wanted an electronically controlled center coupling – linking the driveshaft to the rear differential – that could pre-engage at rest to reduce wheel-spin from standing starts, engage quickly when traction loss was detected and disengage quickly without compromising stability control systems. The system also had to transmit the necessary torque to achieve LR2’s off-road traction demands.
The result is used exclusively on LR2, and proactively engages all-wheel drive rapidly and completely. A new high-pressure pre-charge pump charges the hydraulic system as soon as the engine is started, allowing for all-wheel drive from rest. It also reduces the time taken to achieve full torque once wheel-slip has been detected – within 15 degrees of wheel-slip rotation.
The LR2’s Haldex unit is designed to allow up to 1106 lb.-ft. of torque transmission. An accumulator also speeds up the unit’s response. Full torque transmission can be achieved in just 150 milliseconds. In effect, the new Haldex coupling gives the proactive engagement benefits of all-wheel drive and the efficiency and fuel economy of an on-demand system. Representing the best of both worlds, it is ideal for a compact SUV such as LR2.
TERRAIN RESPONSE ENHANCES GO-ANYWHERE ABILITY
Terrain Response is one of the core Land Rover technologies that gives the LR2 its outstanding breadth of capability. It adapts the responses of the vehicle’s engine, gearbox, center coupling and chassis systems to match the demands of the terrain. It optimizes drivability and comfort, as well as maximizing traction.
On the LR2, there are four Terrain Response settings which the driver can choose via a rotary control:
- General Driving – provides a broad span of ability suitable for most on-road driving and easier off-road conditions
- Grass/Gravel/Snow – for slippery conditions, on-road or off-road
- Mud and Ruts
- Sand
“Each of the settings optimizes LR2’s suite of electronic and mechanical controls to suit the chosen terrain,” says Andrew Foster. “It’s like having an off-road expert to assist.”
Terrain Response also controls the following range of stability and traction aids:
- Dynamic Stability Control (DSC): is designed to stop torque to a wheel after loss of traction, but in some off-road situations torque feed is still desirable, even when traction is being lost.
- Terrain Response automatically adjusts the DSC so that appropriate torque is maintained
- Electronic Traction Control and Anti-lock Brakes: these slip and braking control systems are all adjusted and tuned by Terrain Response to offer optimum grip, braking power and safety on the chosen terrain
- Hill Descent Control (HDC): the award-winning Land Rover technology that automatically restricts speed downhill, using the anti-lock brakes, and improves driver control on slippery descents. HDC is automatically engaged on appropriate Terrain Response programs. Downhill speed rates vary according to which surface is selected.
Terrain Response also changes the setting of the electronic center coupling, to optimize all-wheel drive in tough conditions. Terrain Response works continuously, and made its production debut in the Land Rover LR3 in 2004.
LARGE AND POWERFUL BRAKES
The LR2 has large vented discs front and rear, providing superior stopping power. The large 12.5 in. (316 mm) front discs are ‘reverse vented’, so they draw cool air into the disc over the central bell, which is then vented out from the rim of the disc. This approach improves thermal stability under severe braking. Rear brake discs are also substantial – 12 in. (302 mm) in diameter. The handbrake is a drum-in-disc device providing superior hill-hold performance.
The electronic modulator at the heart of the stability control systems on LR2 constantly monitors and, if necessary, adjusts both braking and engine traction to ensure the driver maintains control of each wheel. As well as reducing brake pressure, as in a conventional anti-lock (ABS) braking system, the modulator is designed to help generate positive hydraulic pressure to increase braking force in an emergency.
In addition to the latest-generation four-channel anti-lock brakes, the modulator also controls Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), which balances the distribution of braking force between front and rear, Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), which boosts pedal pressure when full braking is required, and Corner Brake Control (CBC), which enhances rear-end stability when braking in corners. It also helps to control the Hill Descent Control, Electronic Traction Control and Dynamic Stability Control systems.
ROLL-STABILITY CONTROL
Roll Stability Control is the most sophisticated roll-over prevention technology ever fitted to a Land Rover. Gyroscopic sensing allows this system – linked to the electronic modulator – to compare the rate of change of body roll angle with the steered course. If necessary, incremental brake force is applied at the outer wheels, widening the turn radius to help prevent the roll.
GRADIENT RELEASE CONTROL
Another innovation which makes its debut on LR2 is Land Rover’s patented Gradient Release Control system. Linked to the Hill Descent Control, it ensures that when releasing the brakes on extremely steep hills, brake-line pressure is released progressively when the driver’s foot is removed from the pedal, helping to ensure full driver control is maintained.
WHEELS AND TIRES
LR2 is fitted with an 18-inch alloy wheel and tire combination, specifically tuned to help deliver Land Rover’s heralded breadth of capability.
The wheels are low-pressure die-cast aluminum, and are fitted with all-terrain rated tires, so they perform well both on-road and off.
TOWING CAPABILITY
LR2’s powerful engine, strong body and all-wheel transmission make it an ideal tow vehicle. It’s able to tow a 3500 lb. (1585 kg) braked trailer – making them suitable for most single horse trailers, medium-sized travel trailers and small boats.
