Seeing as the spyshots are 3.2 petrols, I'm making this guess as to the launch engines in the new Freelander:

3.2 litre petrol automatic (Volvo engine)
2.2 litre diesel manual (Ford engine)

These would seem to make most sense - we'll probably see a diesel auto and perhaps a higher spec diesel as time goes on

Any other thoughts?

I've been told not to expect a diesel auto at launch, which would seem criminal.

The new Freelander is going to have to go down very well, very quickly in the US market otherwise it will be a dead duck.
I'm thinking that what is available at launch will be geared towards the US (petrol autos) with only token other models until Ford can be bothered to service the rest of the world.

I would imagine Ford big enough (resource wise and as in 'man enough') to launch a Diesel for Europe and the more powerful petrol engine for the US & Europe.

They would suffer badly on this key LR model if they were to get its launch models for each geo wrong.

-s

They seemed to cope with D3 and RRS

Exactly !

One if the ones running around at Eastnor last week was definitely a diesel, didn't get a chance to look inside and see if it was auto or not though 

poo poo si...

Maybe a lucky person will have a camera with them...

WhatCar are giving 10 people the chance to see the Freelander in an exclusive sneak preview on June 7th.

http://www.whatcar.com/news-article.aspx?NA=220064

Sign and be lucky !

-s

I like what i see...very nice

http://www.carspyshots.net/zerothread?id=19781

I also think it is a big mistake not to go with a diesel auto to begin with, it is what a lot of people want.

access wrote:

I like what i see...very nice

http://www.carspyshots.net/zerothread?id=19781

Now on here as well

http://www.freel2.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27

Cliff H wrote:

I also think it is a big mistake not to go with a diesel auto to begin with, it is what a lot of people want.

I won't take up my slot if I can't get a diesel auto..... sorry my wife won't be!!

For me the same, NO new FL2 if no diesel auto. will
MY01 Td4 Steptronic 5 drs SE Epsom green

Took Henry's boys a long time to decide that folks might want to buy an automatic diesel and refused to sell you one for many years, even up to last year you could not get an auto-diesel Mondeo, until the 2.2l engine came online. It was the same with the Jag X type - you could have a diesel but not an automatic diesel! Seeing as the Automatic TD4 Freelander was very popular, I would hope that the marketing men will have one ready for launch. The auto TD4 was always the best, if not quite the most economical, version.

Tim,

My mondeo was a 2.0TDCi auto on a '53' plate, been around for several years now. The 2.2 TDCi is manual only. Ford do some funny things. because the Mondeo V6 is now 3.0 if you have a manual or 2.5 for auto, they don't do a 2.5 manual anymore and haven't ever donea 3.0 auto.

The X-Type 2.0d is only manual like you say, but the 2.2 is available in auto. Seems a little odd, I would have preferred also to see the 4x4 systemn with the diesel engine.

Cheers H