Spotted: New Rover!

Bolin · 5th December 2012, 18:09

Erm, well a new Land Rover at least!

I think it was a prototype Freelander 3, judging by the size of it.

It was in the typical camoflarge used on prototypes, with black and white stripes/patches, a large brown area around the front grille and bumper (like masking paper) with the number plate on top. There were also two white 'boxes' on the tailgate, no idea what they were for, perhaps they contained test equipment?

I saw it on the A46 heading towards Coventry, on the way back I saw signs pointing to Jaguar engineering or something like that, so it was probably going there - a quick Googling suggests it's JLR's engineering base.

Interesting to see a prototype in the flesh, rare to see on the roads despite seeing many pictures of such vehicles in car mags, AROnline etc.

Chipper · 5th December 2012, 19:41

Saw it down in Plymouth a couple of weeks ago, seems like they're being thorough with the road conditions!

AURORA MG · 5th December 2012, 21:58

Probably the new Range Rover Sport that is due next Summer. Freelander has just had a 2013 makeover though mainly inside & no replacement due till 2015 I believe.

Gaydon is the home of Reaearch & Development for JLR.

Bolin · 5th December 2012, 22:48

Hmm it didn't look Range Rover-shaped at all, the basic shape screamed Freelander to me. The tailgate was pretty much vertical and the whole back end was too high and chunky for a traditional RR sloped tailgate - I think it had a hump in the roof at the back like a Freelander. Plus it looked too short to be a RR (except evoque but it was definitely not the same shape as one of those.

Freelander 2 was launched in 2006 so due for replacement? Perhaps the last facelift is one of those final ones a car gets when it only has a couple of years left in production.

5th December 2012, 18:09	#1
Bolin This is my second home Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE 4dr manual Wedgewood Blue 2 04-05/06/2001 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: N.E. Hampshire Posts: 4,617 Thanks: 289 Thanked 308 Times in 243 Posts	Spotted: New Rover! Erm, well a new Land Rover at least! I think it was a prototype Freelander 3, judging by the size of it. It was in the typical camoflarge used on prototypes, with black and white stripes/patches, a large brown area around the front grille and bumper (like masking paper) with the number plate on top. There were also two white 'boxes' on the tailgate, no idea what they were for, perhaps they contained test equipment? I saw it on the A46 heading towards Coventry, on the way back I saw signs pointing to Jaguar engineering or something like that, so it was probably going there - a quick Googling suggests it's JLR's engineering base. Interesting to see a prototype in the flesh, rare to see on the roads despite seeing many pictures of such vehicles in car mags, AROnline etc.

5th December 2012, 19:41	#2
Chipper Avid contributor Project Last Chance Saloon Join Date: May 2011 Location: Cornwall Posts: 135 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Saw it down in Plymouth a couple of weeks ago, seems like they're being thorough with the road conditions!

5th December 2012, 21:58	#3
AURORA MG Banned (EX)-ZT-T190SE in Aurora. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Medway Posts: 2,954 Thanks: 42 Thanked 53 Times in 46 Posts	Probably the new Range Rover Sport that is due next Summer. Freelander has just had a 2013 makeover though mainly inside & no replacement due till 2015 I believe. Gaydon is the home of Reaearch & Development for JLR.

5th December 2012, 22:48	#4
Bolin This is my second home Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE 4dr manual Wedgewood Blue 2 04-05/06/2001 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: N.E. Hampshire Posts: 4,617 Thanks: 289 Thanked 308 Times in 243 Posts	Hmm it didn't look Range Rover-shaped at all, the basic shape screamed Freelander to me. The tailgate was pretty much vertical and the whole back end was too high and chunky for a traditional RR sloped tailgate - I think it had a hump in the roof at the back like a Freelander. Plus it looked too short to be a RR (except evoque but it was definitely not the same shape as one of those. Freelander 2 was launched in 2006 so due for replacement? Perhaps the last facelift is one of those final ones a car gets when it only has a couple of years left in production.