2008 Land Rover LR2

Like Jeeps in America, the vehicles manufactured in Britain by Land Rover have long qualified as icons of adventure. More than half a century ago, Land Rovers were already trekking through African safaris and enduring desert marathons. The company produces a full-size Range Rover as well as a Range Rover Sport and a lower-cost, midsize LR3.


For 2007, Land Rover introduced its fourth new model in four years: a premium compact sport-utility vehicle called the LR2. Billed as "new from the ground up," the LR2 promises "class-leading off-road capability" in the mold of its bigger brothers.

Styling

Designers in Gaydon, England had to make the new model "instantly recognizable" as a Land Rover. "We purposely kept strong Land Rover design cues," said design director Gerry McGovern, "such as the clamshell bonnet, stepped roof and the basic form." According to McGovern, the LR2 design can be called "chiseled, geometric and simple," exhibiting a close relationship to both the LR3 and the Range Rover Sport.


Built on a 104.7-inch wheelbase, the LR2 is 177.1 inches long and 68.5 inches high, with a fully independent suspension and rack-and-pinion steering that requires 2.6 turns, lock-to-lock. The stability enhancement system includes Roll Stability Control.


Under the hood, a new 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine develops 230 horsepower at 6,300 rpm, with 234 pound-feet of torque—sufficient to deliver 0-60 mph acceleration in a claimed 8.4 seconds. Fitted with a driver-selectable Sport mode, the new six-speed automatic transmission incorporates a CommandShift setup for manual sequential gear changes, when desired.