Next Freelander joins Discovery 'family'

Land Rover has revealed that its next generation Freelander will become part of a new Discovery 'family'. The Freelander nameplate which has been used since 1997 will be dropped.

Speaking to What Car?, Land Rover's design chief Gerry McGovern admitted that an all-new 'Freelander' would be a member of a family of models, forming the next phase of Land Rover’s model offensive.'To make a family you have to have at least three: small, medium and large,’ he said.

The smallest member of the new Discovery line-up is likely to be the Freelander replacement, which McGovern said would have more space, versatility and quality than the current car. He also revealed that it would have the option of seven seats for the first time.

At the upper end of the range and expected to arrive in 2016 will be two models of differing lengths to replace the current Discovery. Previous reports have indicated that they will share the Range Rover’s lightweight aluminium architecture. According to McGovern, the Discovery replacements will also be more luxurious and versatile than the current car, but still maintain the same spacious seven-seat layout.

Visually they will resemble the new ‘Freelander’ but all three models will have a different style and character, aping the new Range Rover trio of models.