Looking at the zebra-like-themed Land Rover prototype in these spy shots, you would be forgiven to believe that it’s a camouflaged Range Rover Evoque, because that’s partially true.
If you take a closer look, though, you will notice two things that stand out on the car: the longer wheelbase (evident from the wider rear wheel arches and the positioning of the rear door) and the extended rear overhang.
What we have here is an early test mule for a replacement of the Land Rover Freelander (known as the LR2 in North America) dressed in a modified body of the Evoque.
The new Land Rover compact SUV will ride on a lengthened version of the Evoque’s platform, which itself, is loosely based on the Ford-sourced EUCD chassis used on the current Freelander 2.
Land Rover will make use of composite materials and aluminum on the body to reduce weight, and which together with a new generation of engines shared with the Evoque, will improve the Freelander 3’s (LR3) fuel economy and CO2 emissions.
The new five door model should arrive in the market in 2015 with a three-door version to follow later on.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS
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