Freelander - Handling
Car-like ride and handling On-Road
Freelander was designed from the outset to deliver car-like levels of ride and handling on-road whilst achieving Land Rover's world-renowned off-road performance. In the latest model, improvements to the suspension that further enhance Freelander's on and off road capabilities.
Revised suspension for comfort and control
All-round independent suspension by Macpherson struts has been retained from the earlier model, but larger struts have been introduced. The weight reductions achieved through the monocoque design with integral chassis and subframes gives a low unsprung weight at each wheel. Long wheel travel gives high levels of ride comfort on and off road.
Careful design and extensive computer modelling have refined and re-tuned the front end suspension geometry, suspension bushes and damping to ensure that control is maintained throughout the whole range of suspension movement, giving improved ride and handling.
Front Suspension
Steering precision and ride comfort
Two patent applied designs give important benefits. Firstly, the front suspension is located to the subframe by a rear facing lower control arm, with the front bush angled in a unique way. This allows the wheel, when it hits a bump, to move up to 10mm backwards before significantly moving upwards, maintaining precise steering, and helping to isolate the cabin from road shocks.
Secondly, the front anti-roll bar acts directly off the Macpherson strut to ensure precise roll control. Its geometry has been chosen to improve ride by compensating for strut friction, and to eliminate corruption of the steering.
Negative offset and Anti-dive;braking stability
Negative offset steering geometry makes a further major contribution to braking stability and control, by suppressing the tendency to pull to one side during braking, and improving steering control in the event of a front tyre blow-out.
Anti-dive geometry (front and rear) further helps to reduce pitch and improve stability when braking.
Rear Suspension
The rear suspension is a sophisticated arrangement designed to optimise handling and road comfort.
The Macpherson struts are located to the rear subframe by a system of one longitudinal and two transverse lower links. The transverse links help to control understeer for safe handling. The rear wheels act in a similar way to the front when they hit a bump, moving backwards by up to 8.5mm before significantly moving upwards.
The Benefits
- Improved straight line running
- Improved ride and handling both on and off road
- Exceptional ride comfort
- Car-like ride and handling on road
- Braking stability
- Steering Precision
- Excellent off-road performance
