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By Guy Bird
26 November 2008 09:07
Land Rover is going green…honest. The first of its CO2-reducing technologies – the Freelander TD4_e featuring stop/start technology – launches in April 2009 and promises to be the most fuel-efficient Land Rover ever offering 42.2mpg and 179g/km of CO2. The authentic 4x4 brand also claims the Freelander TD4_e is the world’s first SUV to sport an intelligent stop/start system.
Of course that’s the official combined figure so probably yes, but the fuel-sipping technology is still great news for drivers wanting all the ability and authenticity Land Rover is famed for, wrapped up in a greener package that will genuinely improve day-to-day economy. The stop/start tech – married to the existing 2.2-litre TD4 diesel manual – boosts official mpg by 12% (37.7 to 42.2mpg) and reduces emissions by 8% (from 194 to 179g/km) and could, says Land Rover, improve economy by 20% in heavy stop/start conditions. Land Rover’s stop/start specialist boffin Phil Whiffin believes savings could equate to £13 per tank or £680 every year.
For now Land Rover's launching only on the Freelander diesel manual – automatics are trickier to engineer with stop/start technology and the Freelander’s 3.2-litre petrol sales are minuscule in the UK – but stop/start systems will be rolled out to other diesel manual models in the range in time. Expect the Discovery to be next. Stop/start will be standard on the Freelander TD4 manual and incur no extra cost over the current model.
Click 'Next' below to read more of our Land Rover Freelander TD4_e Stop/Start first drive
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Land Rover Freelander TD4_e Stop/Start (2008) CAR review
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robertinspain says
RE: Land Rover Freelander TD4_e Stop/Start (2008) CAR review
I'm sceptical about all mpg figures as they just don't relate to the real world. I have an auto TD4 and get low twenties mpg other than on motorways which gets low thirties.
29 November 2008 17:44
asp says
I'm surprised that Stop/Start technology hasn't had any backlash due to it's slightly false means of improving MPG. Don't get me wrong, I think the system works great and should be complusory on all cars, I've used it in my Dad's 118d and it works flawlessly. But it doesn't actually improve the performance of the engine as such. Similar to how supercarrambler mentions below, a driver who lives on a motorway, the benefits are hardly felt.
27 November 2008 09:15
supercarrambler says
Stop/Start technology increases mpg by 12% - impressive stats but how do you measure this, I live in London where there are over 500,000 sets of traffic lights and roundaboutes etc but if you lived in Diss then there is only two. You can see who this tractor is aimed at, but well done for green laning
26 November 2008 18:44
jacomoseven says
Are low-rolling resistance much cop in the mud, then?
26 November 2008 11:43
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