I always loved the Freelander 1 3 door hard/soft back and thought it was a brilliant vehicle (Ive had 2 of them)

Same internal/external dimensions as the 5 door version but with removable rear roof and removable sun roof panels.

It made for a 'single mans' land rover being only 3 door but with room for 4/5 people, and with the roof off made for a fantastic summer vehicle. I had many a day in the summers driving round with the roof off, and just used the rain cover overnight.

I always felt Land Rover missed out on this when the FL2 was introduced.

Again! The market has shifted and LR have fallen behind with their model lineup and are playing catchup!!
You only have to look at the Jeep Renegade to get some clues to where LR have gaps. Possibly a new Freelander in the future will capture the original FL1 spirit - something to think about!!
the DS is a very important model and i hope it sells/it will well! D4 is shrinking volume market!
"Single Mans" Land Rover is so not the market LR needs to be atm. Precisely why the Freelander name/size was retired (always marketed at singles and mini Range Rover buyer - something that is against future plans) and to come back in another segment, market has changed.
Remember the current/outgoing Freelander 2 was designed to capture the growing American market, hence increase size and more mature design. But this was before GFC, market has changed! China, India etc is where growth market is and currently LR's range ain't really on the mark!
I loved my FL1 V6 but my MY15 Freelander 2 is soooooooo much better, not comparable in fact!The difference is Day and Night doesn't go far enough to describe the difference and the FL1 V6 wasn't a bad car! In fact I drove across Australia in my FL1 V6 and believe me I had a grin from ear to ear as it was a magic highway cruiser and able to get me offroad into the desert. Never missed a beat! That drive from East coast of Australia to West Coast convinced me of how such a great car it was!
Pic just to illustrate!

All the DS's must be hiding from me, Somerset to Suffolk, and still no a single one! Think you are right J77, still few and far between. Nice for you though.

I've been in Gloucestershire for the last couple of weeks, with forays into Worcestershire, Shropshire and Herefordshire. Here there are Freelanders everywhere, and in Gloucestershire at least Range Rovers by the dozen. But I haven't seen a single DS, not one. So either there are no DSs in the four counties, or they're so anonymous that they're there and I'm not seeing them! (The latter is, I think, unlikely.)

Similar ??

As it's been mentioned on here...times have changed and sadly so has JLR in order to survive! The Rover Group had the best shape LR's ever made ford and (BMW) briefly done ok as well. I sometimes wonder if the Rover Group still owned Land Rover how they would have reacted to streamlining LR's as Rover did make cars maybe LR may not had been taxed as heavily for not having an eco model! In 2000 the Rover Group parted and in 2005 it was all over! Sad times brings a tear to my eyes even now as I always remember the slogans as a kid in my dads landies "It's never over in a Rover" MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

Welcome to "Globalisation" and the "Global Economy"! MY15
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Surround Camera System
InControl Apps soon to be replaced with CarPlay (WIP)
Meridian Premium Surround Sound
Digital Audio Broadcast
Timed Climate
Cruise ECO Data
Follow Me Home Reverse
Extra Features Menu
Picture In Motion
4x4i screen (WIP)
Digital Broadcast TV
Meridian Rear Media with WIFI
Factory Powered Tailgate
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Reverse Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Electrochromatic Wing Mirrors (WIP)

I'd be worried about GLOBAL WARMING where you are mate  MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

They all look the same (ish)

http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic22886.html

Rumour has it that the DS won't be made into 2WD for the UK market as the 150 TD4 E-capability 5 seaters CO2 is below the magic 130g/km.

There is plenty of DSs up this neck of the woods now, a couple that a recognise as Fl2 owners but I think a lot are new to the brand which is LRs intention. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

I have just heaved a builders dumpy bag full of garden rubbish into the back of my FL2, it fit's nicely with the seats half down and off up the road to the dump. I wonder if you can get one in the back of a DS? The boot opening looks smaller.

Before anyone says what's wrong with a bonfire? I am surrounded by thatched houses and for some reason the neighbours get a bit funny about it.  3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Whats another 5 or 10 degrees LRNUT!!!! I just dial down the FL2 A/C
Besides with dorsetfreelander bonfire opening the hole bigger in the ozone layer, what else is there to do???
Rubbish! In the back of the car??

 MY15
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Surround Camera System
InControl Apps soon to be replaced with CarPlay (WIP)
Meridian Premium Surround Sound
Digital Audio Broadcast
Timed Climate
Cruise ECO Data
Follow Me Home Reverse
Extra Features Menu
Picture In Motion
4x4i screen (WIP)
Digital Broadcast TV
Meridian Rear Media with WIFI
Factory Powered Tailgate
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Reverse Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Electrochromatic Wing Mirrors (WIP)

dorsetfreelander wrote:

I have just heaved a builders dumpy bag full of garden rubbish into the back of my FL2, it fit's nicely with the seats half down and off up the road to the dump. I wonder if you can get one in the back of a DS? The boot opening looks smaller.

Before anyone says what's wrong with a bonfire? I am surrounded by thatched houses and for some reason the neighbours get a bit funny about it.

Hey everyone, thought I'd chime in.

Just been to 2 LR stealers on the continent - one in Antwerp and another in Hamburg. Both dealers mentioned that the DS's were selling like hot cakes for them. In fact the second hand Freely I bought was a trade-in for a DS.

Just a bit of trivia for ya...

n. 2013 SE TD4 in Mauritius Blue [Written off]

j77 wrote:

Rumour has it that the DS won't be made into 2WD for the UK market as the 150 TD4 E-capability 5 seaters CO2 is below the magic 130g/km