Wheels

Land Roving the Freelander way

BORN FREE: When Land Rover launched the Freelander way back in 1997, it was a new departure for the company. This was Land Rover's first 'softroader', though in reality there are only a few places where a Freelander cannot go. It may not be a Defender, but is has got the same Land Rover genes.

Nine years later, we are about to see a new generation of Freelander on our roads. Freelander 2 will be on our shores in January 2007 and it promises to be an altogether new experience.

The new, bigger, longer, Freelander has definitely moved more upmarket, but it has more features and more appeal. There will be no three-door version.

Initially, only a 3.2 litre straight transversely-mounted six-cylinder petrol (mated to a smooth Aisin six-speed auto) and a 2.2 litre turbodiesel (six-speed manual, but an auto will be available later next year) will be offered, a far cry from the previous smaller engines.

This will also drive up the price, though. The Volvo-derived petrol engine can produce 230 bhp at 6300 rpm. The diesel, badged TD4 as usual, is from peugeot. Bristling with the latest common-rail technology, it is good for 158 bhp.

You can still instantly identify it as a Freelander, but there are unmissable styling cues from bigger brothers Range Rover and Discovery 3.

The Freelander is so good inside and out, that potential Discovery buyers might be tempted to go in for the smaller sibling and save a few million rupees as well.

The Freelander has actually moved up one class, so that is not such a bad idea after all. There's more leg room all around and boot space is impressive too.

In case you forgot, the new Freelander is a full-time 4WD unit, with both mechanical and electronic aids to boost traction and safety. But the biggest change is borrowed from big brother Discovery. Land Rover's amazing terrain response (TR) system is fitted to the Freelander for the first time.

With TR, all you do is select the terrain you are treading on and the car mechanicals and electronics do the rest. They raise or lower it, engage diff lock, firm up the suspension. You can select from five settings including road, sand, rock, snow, mud and gravel.

With its traditional high ground clearance, the new Freelander will be able to go places. Wheel sizes will vary from 16 to 18 in, though 19 inches will be available as an aftermarket option.

Independent suspension will make travelling easier on and off tarmac. The all-monocoque chassis is exceptionally tough as it has more high-strength steel than any other Land Rover model.

Keyless go, Swivelling headlights, rain sensing wipers, three hi-fi levels, several trim levels, cruise control and auto climate control will be on offer. Switchgear is ergonomically designed.

The four-spoke multi-function steering wheel is easy on the hands too. Land Rover targets to sell 80,000 units a year worldwide, including Sri Lanka. The USA and the UK will be the main markets.

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Austin A30 celebrates Golden Jubilee

W.D.T. SIRIWARDENA

MOTORING CLASSIC: The Austin 30, familiar as A30 in Sri Lanka and one of the motor cars with sparkling performance among the contemporary vehicles of that era, celebrates 50.

Made in England by Austin Motor Company's Longbridge Plant in Birmingham, a fair number of cars still could be seen on Sri Lanka roads.

This vehicle, initially designed by Bob Koto and later amended by Dick Burzy, replaced the pre World War II, very popular model of Austin Seven, and was the pioneering car manufactured on a unitary construction, without a separate chassis, Scaled down version of A40 engine of 803cc with Over Head Valves used as the power unit developed about 30 bhp at 4800 rpm.

Most of other manufacturers were still using side valve engines at that time. The car was unveiled at Earls Court Motor show on 16th October 1951.

The car was an immediate success as it was enthusiastically accepted by the public of that time being a very economical vehicle. "Motoring with money in your pocket" was the sales promotion slogan.

A fair portion of production was for export and the colours for export were County Cream, Spruce Green, Inland Blue, Speedwell Blue, Tweed Grey and Streamline Blue. Five models were manufactured AS3 four-door saloon, AS4 four-door saloon, A2S4 delivery van and AP4 Countrymen, which was a passenger van.

A total of about 228,000 vehicles were produced under these five models. The last A30 rolled out of the production plant in September 1956.

The model was upgraded as A35 from October 1956 onwards with a few changes and production of A35s continued until August 1959.

Enthusiasts of A30s and A35s in the UK have formed an Association and maintain an 'International Austin A30/A35 Register' (IAR). Any vehicle either in running condition or scrap form could be included in this Register free of charge.

The purpose of collecting this information is mainly to ascertain how many cars of these two models are in existence in the world.

Presently about 280 vehicles of A30 and A35 of all models manufactured, have been registered all over the world.

Under a discussion forum, technical and other advice also could be obtained. Some parts like badges etc. re-manufactured by the intervention of the club could also be purchased.

Please visit www.flying-a.net to register any model of A30 or A35.

(Source: International Austin Register)

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Is new ForTwo a Smart move

GERMANY: Smart, the loss-making ultra-compact car made by DaimlerChrysler, has undergone a face-lift in a final attempt to steer itself back to profit.

But the second generation of the trendy get-about might be the last if the revamped ForTwo fails to drive back into the black after running up heavy losses for its parent company over the past eight years.

For the launch of the new ForTwo in front of nearly 600 invited journalists here on Thursday, Smart enlisted the help of former Formula One driver Niki Lauda and an impressive firework display. "The ForTwo isn't just a car. It's an icon," said DaimlerChrysler chief Dieter Zetsche.

"The new Smart does everything that customers have liked about this car from the very beginning. But it does it better."

At first glance, the Smart Mark II, which like is predecessor is built at the French assembly plant in Hambach in the Mosel valley, looks almost exactly the same. But comfort has been increased, by making the new model, which will be in the salesrooms from next April, 17 centimetres longer.

Even at that length, drivers will still be able to park at right angles to the pavement, the makers claim, one of the big selling points in the traffic-jammed towns and cities where parking space is in chronically short supply.

There are changes under the bonnet, too, with the engine 10-15 percent more powerful, but just as low in carbon dioxide emissions - 90 grammes per kilometre, compared with 113 grammes for the Peugeot 206/207 and 120 grammes for the Renault Twingo.

For a model that has never yet made a profit, parent company DaimlerChrysler has set the new Smart ambitious targets - to break even by next year and turn in a profit in subsequent years.

But there lies the crux of the problem. Even though 750,000 Smart cars have been sold worldwide since its launch in 1998, sales have fallen short of target given the relatively high starting price of 9,500 euros (12,150 dollars) for a basic two-seater.

DaimlerChrysler does not publish separate earnings figures for its different brands. But analysts estimate the Smart has run up accumulated losses of more than three billion euros since the launch, a figure dismissed as "pure speculation" by Smart chief Ulrich Walker.

Nevertheless, last year, when DaimlerChrysler was faced with major headaches with its prestigious Mercedes brand, there was much talk that Smart might be sold off or shut down altogether. In the end, the parent company gave the unit a stay of execution.

But in the attempt to steer the unit back to profit, 700 jobs have been axed, most of them in the company's headquarters near Stuttgart. Smart is scheduled to be launched in the United States at the start of 2008.

"It's the right moment, with environmental issues and high oil prices increasingly in the spotlight in the US," said DaimlerChrysler chief Zetsche.