Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4_e Stop-Start

Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4_e - introduces Land Rover's new intelligent Stop/Start system

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.

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.

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.

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.

Land Rover engineers focus on the introduction of intelligent, appropriate technologies, and the Freelander 2 TD4_e is no exception. In congested traffic, when the Stop/Start technology will shut down the engine frequently, other features and technologies will not be compromised, so in-car entertainment, climate control, Bluetooth, driver information and other electronic systems will continue to function.