Frankfurt Motor Show

By Julie Sinclair

11th September 2007

A teaser video of an unmistakable Land Rover, spinning through the levels of a multi-story car park were all that journalists got to see of the firm's new baby. But judging by the tight cornering, and the close-up shots of the car speeding past parked MINIs - there's no doubt the firm's got a compact mud-plugger in mind. Flyers showing the newcomer speeding off into the sunset were also dished out. What Land Rover will say is that the car will be a subcompact version of the Freelander - shorter, but the same length. The firm insisted it wouldn't be "a cheap, entry-level model", but an all-singing and dancing off-roader, with all the kit you'd expect from the firm.

Also unveiled was news that a more economical version of the Freelander is due to go into production in diesel manual guise, by teh end of next year. The stop-start variant will reduce CO2 emissions by 10 percent to 179g/km, putting it in tax Band E, one lower than the current model.

A G4 Challenge was also announced - a tie up with the Red Cross that will involve 18 teams across the UK competing to complete a series of off-road challenges.

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