Been looking at...sharp intake of breath....other ranges of 4x4 cars...just struck me that are LR missing a trick by perhaps shortening the FL2 flooplan and coming up with 2wd/4wd competitor to the likes of the Yeti (which is selling like hot cakes and very 4x4 capable).

The mix of 2wd and 4wd could help with the overall CO2 figures for the brand...it could maybe also be a rejuvination of the Rover brand (with Land Rover technology) on small SUV and perhaps volvo esque estate cars with AWD

Just a thought that as the FL2 is soooo good it should be shared more!

Perhaps they could do an Aston Martin and create a city car. I can just imagine a tiny box shaped LR with slightly increased ride height and 2WD with 4WD when needed  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

I think realistically the Yeti would be snookered if you threw anything more than wet grass or 6 inches of snow at it.

Also LR is cited in the market as a premium brand so in the near future the Evoque will probably be the smallest thing going.  Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Not wishing to big up the oposition but I have looked at the Skoda Yeti on youtube and it appears to be more than capable of tackling more that wet grass.

1STFREELANDER wrote:

Not wishing to big up the oposition but I have looked at the Skoda Yeti on youtube and it appears to be more than capable of tackling more that wet grass.

I was a scrutineer at the Rally Scotland 2010 (a round of IRC) and drove through some of the stages with my FL2. Skoda were the main sponsors and all official course cars were Yeti, the later stages having been run twice were quite demanding. There were no complaints from any officials using them, remember they had never even driven one before that weekend.
The Skoda works team obviously had Yeti for recce cars.
Some officials who did not require to go into stages were given the new Fabia VRS 1.4 flying machine.
A Skoda won the championship All FL2's (3) Gone
2011 Mercedes C180 CGI Gone
FL2 GS Auto SD with heated leather, factory tints, alloy spare and a few other bits.

Skoda Fabia VRS DSG is alot of car for the money  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

richardk wrote:

Been looking at...sharp intake of breath....other ranges of 4x4 cars...just struck me that are LR missing a trick by perhaps shortening the FL2 flooplan and coming up with 2wd/4wd competitor to the likes of the Yeti (which is selling like hot cakes and very 4x4 capable).

The mix of 2wd and 4wd could help with the overall CO2 figures for the brand...it could maybe also be a rejuvination of the Rover brand (with Land Rover technology) on small SUV and perhaps volvo esque estate cars with AWD

Just a thought that as the FL2 is soooo good it should be shared more!

Well researched Natwest

The only way i can see L/R going even smaller is by using something like Focus/Kuga size floorpan.
I hope not; i think the brand would begin to lose what it stands for.
And would Ford want a L/R product to compete with the Kuga? Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

richardk wrote:

1STFREELANDER wrote:

Not wishing to big up the oposition but I have looked at the Skoda Yeti on youtube and it appears to be more than capable of tackling more that wet grass.

Yes by all accounts I believe you are right with the Yeti 4x4 capability..even has hill descent control and a kind of terrain response (ok one setting)..but it looks like a gap in LR's armoury. Oh and th 6 month waiting list apparently

As I mentioned the Land Rover name wouldn't maybe have to adorn a smaller car...but the Rover name could (It's owned by JLR) and would complement LR brand

From what I learned this week, Evogue is sized against BMW X1, Kuga etc. I saw the 5dr Evoque this week and it is wider than FL2 but quite a bit lower on the roof line. Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

Mav71 wrote:

richardk wrote:

1STFREELANDER wrote:

Not wishing to big up the oposition but I have looked at the Skoda Yeti on youtube and it appears to be more than capable of tackling more that wet grass.

Yes by all accounts I believe you are right with the Yeti 4x4 capability..even has hill descent control and a kind of terrain response (ok one setting)..but it looks like a gap in LR's armoury. Oh and th 6 month waiting list apparently

As I mentioned the Land Rover name wouldn't maybe have to adorn a smaller car...but the Rover name could (It's owned by JLR) and would complement LR brand

The Rover name is not owned by JLR, it never has been.

richardk wrote:

Mav71 wrote:

richardk wrote:

1STFREELANDER wrote:

Not wishing to big up the oposition but I have looked at the Skoda Yeti on youtube and it appears to be more than capable of tackling more that wet grass.

Yes by all accounts I believe you are right with the Yeti 4x4 capability..even has hill descent control and a kind of terrain response (ok one setting)..but it looks like a gap in LR's armoury. Oh and th 6 month waiting list apparently

As I mentioned the Land Rover name wouldn't maybe have to adorn a smaller car...but the Rover name could (It's owned by JLR) and would complement LR brand

The Rover name is not owned by JLR, it never has been.

Oh yes it is! They secured the name from Ford when they bought JLR. Ford secured the Rover name when MG Rover went into administration (MGR had the name on licence from BMW on the basis that they couldn't make 4wd Rovers) so as to secure the Land Rover brand (LR are often referred to as Rover's in USA)

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/domestic?domesticnum=2021118

Won't even mention "Roewe" because it'll then get really confusing!