Freelander 2 take its time

LAND ROVER says it will not release its vital second-generation Freelander SUV until the second half of next year.

With the Freelander 2's global rollout just commencing, and with the important US market a priority for the Ford-owned English marque, Australians are not expected to take delivery until at least August 2007.

The Freelander 2 will also step up into a different price bracket, as Land Rover targets the BMW X3 and forthcoming Audi Q5, so expect the range to kick off in the $60,000 range, with high-specification variants nudging $80,000.

In contrast, the outgoing CB40 Freelander, in Series III and all-diesel guise since the last facelift arrived in early 2004, spans a $10,000 range, beginning from $39,950.

If you’re after one of these you may have missed out: according to Land Rover stocks have virtually dried up in Australia.