| New fuel-efficient system for Freelander |
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| Written by Staff Reporter | |
| Wednesday, 15 October 2008 | |
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THE new Freelander 2 TD4_e is claimed to be Land Rover’s most fuel-efficient vehicle. This latest model introduced at the recent Paris Motor Show features a new intelligent Stop/Start system. It is the first Land Rover production vehicle to incorporate technologies from the company’s sustainable engineering initiatives, collectively named 'e_TERRAIN TECHNOLOGIES'.
On the standard combined driving cycle, Land Rover claims that the CO2 emissions of the Freelander 2 TD4_e are reduced by 8%, compared with the outgoing manual diesel Freelander 2. In addition Land Rover engineers have measured fuel savings approaching 20% in heavy urban traffic. The 8% economy 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). These gains are coupled with the added benefits of the gearshift indicator light, software developments and efficiencies from low-rolling-resistance tyres. Land Rover claims that the 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 wishes. 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 capability. 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 means that 85% of the vehicle is reusable or recyclable, while a further 10% by mass is recyclable or recoverable. Caption: Land Rover has developed a new more economical version of the Freelander model, dropping 8% in fuel economy terms and lower CO2 emission levels. |
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