Alphabet soup isn’t just reserved for the kitchen anymore. With many automakers jumping ship on the traditional name game, more and more vehicles are being named with a few simple letters or numbers. Land Rover is one of the brands to newly embrace this naming scheme, but a production shift could see the British marque moving around its naming once again.
British-born, Indian-owned Land Rover is due to get a new, seven-seat addition to its range of SUVs in 2012. The vehicle will be based on the smallest Land Rover, the LR2 (Freelander in the U.K.), and will feature a longer wheelbase, unique styling inside and out to differentiate it from that vehicle.
The vehicle is known internally as Project L486, but the public will likely see a different nameplate when it hits production. According to AutoWeek, the new ‘ute will likely be named the LR3. As you probably already know, the LR3 nameplate is already used on the Discovery. In order to make room for the new LR3, the Discovery will be renamed the LR4 — a name change that could come as soon as 2009.
Whatever the case, the seven-seater will be focused more towards on-road handling and comfort than off-road proficiency. To that end, it won’t feature a low-range transfer case, instead using the Freelander’s all-wheel drive system that is primarily front-wheel drive, before sending torque to the rear wheels when it detects slippage.
To help in off-road environments, the car will include electronic aids such as hill descent control, as well as traction and stability control. The same engines found in the Freelander will be carried over to the new vehicle, which means a 2.0- and 2.2-liter diesel in the U.K. with the States getting the same 3.2-liter Inline-6. A dual-clutch gearbox from Gertrag, also used by Ford and Volvo , should be offered as an option. To aid in emissions and fuel economy, a version with a stop-start system will be available.
