2015 Land Rover Freelander spied in the UK

The 2015 Land Rover Freelander was caught testing in Coventry, UK. Part of the new Discovery family that was originally showcased as the Discovery concept in April, the five-seater SUV borrows more than a few design cues from the concept, the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport. The slim, sweptback headlamps chrome grille, an upward sweeping shoulder line and a sloping roofline are especially reminiscent of its siblings as is the rear overhang. The top-spec variant pictured here will also get a tail-mounted spoiler and a dual exhaust system. The SUV also looks slightly larger than its predecessor meaning more space on the inside, and a commanding presence on the road.

Whether this SUV will have the ‘invisible bonnet’ technology that debuted on the Discovery concept or any of the other high tech equipment like the usage of gestures to open doors and turn on/off the headlamps and indicators, Remote Control Drive, laser-terrain-tracking, remains to be seen. Engine choices are also unknown at the moment but we expect a slew of plug-in hybrid options and a new range of four-cylinder petrols and diesels.

Expected to be launched in Europe before the end of the year, the 2015 Freelander will face-off against the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and the Volvo XC60. The SUV will come to India sometime after that. Jaguar Land Rover’s parent company, Tata Motors, is currently working on developing a sub Rs 20 lakh SUV with Land Rover underpinnings and a Tata badge, to be launched by 2017.