Land Rover Freelander LR2 test drive since 2009 SUV

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Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4_E. Price: from 11780000 rub. On sale: since the spring of 2009
Since this year, diesel Freelander 2 with mechanical transmission by defaults are equipped with Stop/Start system. With her, they promise in Land Rover, fuel consumption can decrease to 20%!

Test pilot
Maxim Fedorov, 30 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience of 5 years, personal car - Ford Focus II
Systems similar to the Landruper Stop/Start are already placed on some serial cars, such as BMW and Mini, but on the SUV this technology is used for the first time. The principle of its operation is extremely simple: when the car stops, and the driver converts the transmission lever into neutral and releases the clutch pedal, the electronics muffles the engine. In order for the motor to work again, just squeeze the clutch. As a result, we get a decrease in fuel consumption and harmful emissions (the longer the stop, the greater the effect), without making serious changes in the design of the car.
However, the apparent simplicity of such a system is deceiving. To make sure of this, just look at the list of improvements that Freelander underwent. The SUV received a 2 -kilowatt starter with a reinforced gear of the gear with a flywheel, smoothing loads on the side power supply voltage stabilizer and high -power gel battery, which has a longer service life and less painfully carrying a deep discharge. At the cooling system, an electric drive appeared, and in a vacuum brake amplifier an additional receiver, which allowed the operation of the stove and brakes when the motor is turned off. In addition to these measures, the car was shoeing in tires with reduced rolling resistance, and an indicator was installed on the instrument panel that reports on the need to include increased transmission to save fuel not only during stops, but also during movement.
Thanks to these improvements, the average fuel consumption decreased by 8% from 7.5 liters per 100 km to 6.7. And in urban traffic, saving can be 20%. True, achieving such indicators is not easy, since in the work of Stop/Start there are various restrictions. For example, such a switch will not work at an air temperature below +4 degrees or in the heat, when the permanent operation of the air conditioner is required. The system will also force the motor when the voltage drop in the on -board network and the need to feed the receiver of the vacuum brake amplifier. In addition, the operation of the Stop/Start function will be blocked if the TerRain Response regulator is translated in the off -road position or activate the system control system from the mountain.
If desired, the owner can generally turn off this system by pressing the corresponding button on the central console. Although there is no need to do this: you quickly get used to driving in a stop start-up mode and even find additional advantages in this innovation. So, accidentally stalled at the start, you do not need to reach for the ignition key: the motor can be started by just by pressing the clutch pedal. Well, for those who consider such bells and whistles an excess of money, Land Rover has prepared a murderous argument: installing the Stop/Start system did not affect the cost of the model!
Now, if Freelander 2 TD4_E was also offered with an automatic transmission, however, it is not so simple to make friends with the Stop/Start system: if the engine is tied to the gas pedal, then there will be a pause between the moment of pressing the pedal and the start of the machine movement. A powerful starter-generator will allow this problem to solve this problem, which will start acceleration of the car immediately after pressing the gas. Such a system, called ISG (Integrated Starter Generator), should appear on serial Land Rover models next year.
Five -year plan Land Rover
Issue Freelander 2 TD4_E with the Stop/Start system first step Land Rover in the project to create an environmentally friendly SUV. Over the next five years, the company has been investing about 1 billion euros in green technologies. In particular, this money will go for refinement and launch into a series of SUVs with an integrated ISG starter-generator, as well as an ERAD hybrid drive system (in it the electric motor is combined with the rear axle gearbox). Then the hybrid with a lithium or metal-gydrid battery, which allows you to drive on an electric protrusion from 30 to 60 km, is left. After it, an even more economical kinetic hybrid will appear with a new type of energy drive with the so -called supermahowman. Well, the vertex of the green technologies of Land Rover will be an SUV on a 100 percent electric protrusion with an impressive supply of a rosette to a socket and an on-board diesel generator.

Driving
Exchanged off -road qualities are combined with passenger control, although long -flowing Freelander pendants are not designed to perform speed maneuvers.
Salon
The assembly quality is at a height, but the overall impression spoils the abundance of hard plastic.
Comfort
Noise insulation is well dramatically dramatically in the sound of a turbodiesel, which makes the operation of the Stop/Start system unobtrusive.
Safety
The highest rating of Euro NCAP for protecting passengers.
Price
For the Stop/Start system, the buyer Freelander does not pay anything.
Advantages and disadvantages
+ Passiness, excellent cross -country ability, low fuel consumption, lack of surcharge for the Stop/Start system.
- Restrictions in the operation of the Stop/Start system, there is no version with an automaton.
Specifications
Mark and Model - Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4_E
Dimensions - 4500x1910x1740 mm
The engine is diesel, 2179 cm3, 181 l. With.
Transmission - mechanical, 6 -speed
Dynamics - max 181 km/h, 11.7 s to 100 km
Competitors - Lexus RX 400h

Our opinion
The Stop/Start system provides an excellent opportunity to reduce fuel costs and increase the mileage of the SUV from refueling to refueling. True, the degree of savings will depend not only on the time spent in traffic jams, but also on the temperature overboard. However, in any case, the buyer is winning, because he will not have to pay from his pocket for energy -saving technologies.

Author: Maxim Fedorov
 
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [March 2009]