Land Rover Freelander 1 Introduction

Land Rover Freelander 1 VIN Information

Lander Rover Freelander 1 Vehicle Production Summary – 1997 to 2006

Late 1997 (1998 Model Year)

Land Rover Freelander introduced. Known in the factory by project code name CB40. Models available include Base, Xi/XDi, XEi/XEDi (not distinguished by external badging). Body styles include 3 door soft back or hard back, or 5 door station wagon. Commercial (van) model, based on 3 door hard back, introduced later in 1999.

Powertrains available include 1.8 K Series petrol and 2.0 L Series (TCIE) diesel, both married to Rover PG1 manual gearbox. No version of Freelander available in lucrative USA or Canada markets from launch.

2001 Model Year

New model line up introduced: E, S, SE, GS, etc, each distinguished by front wing badging. New trim materials and colours. 2001 model year vehicles can be spotted by their clear front indicators (up until 1999 they’d been amber) and non-matching amber side repeaters and rear indicators.

2.0 L Series (TCIE) diesel dropped and 2.0 TD4 BMW?M47 diesel introduced, with choice of ZF manual or Jatco automatic gearboxes. 2.5 KV6 petrol introduced as range-topper, only available with Jatco automatic gearbox. 1.8 K Series petrol (now with distributorless ‘MEMS 3’ engine management) continues in production with PG1 manual gearbox.

2002 Model Year

Rationalisation of interior trim colours - Black replaces several colour schemes that had been used on both 3 and 5 door models up to 2001 (Light Smokestone still also offered on 5 door). Super-luxury HSE 5 door makes debut part way through year. New, upgraded electrical equipment - especially in-car entertainment - introduced.

On the outside, 2002 model year vehicles identifiable by clear indicator lenses all-round (at last) and Black bumpers, wheel arch mouldings etc. in place of Hatton Grey used in previous years.

Launch of North American Specification Freelander, following necessary re-engineering, not least to 2.5 KV6 petrol engine (the only engine then made available to American customers).

2004 Model Year

Facelift launched, featuring new bumpers, radiator grille and lamps. Grille and headlamp treatment pulls Freelander ‘face’ into line with other current and forthcoming Land Rover models. Freelander Sport introduced (both 3 and 5 door versions) with revised dampers, springs and new alloy wheel designs.

Interior of facelift models features entirely new fascia, trim panels, door handles etc. and revised seat profiles. Trim colours include Black, Light Tundra (new for 2004) and Alpaca (previously only used on HSE model), again bringing Freelander trim into line with other new and forthcoming Land Rover models (e.g. Discovery 3).

2006 Model Year

North American Specification Freelander withdrawn from sale at start of 2006 model year (NAS 2.5 KV6 petrol engine no longer available from MG Rover, who had collapsed in March 2005).

2006 1/2 Model Year

Freelander withdrawn from sale from all other markets, prior to launch of all-new, Ford-powered Freelander 2 range.