LR2: Land Rover For The Masses
It also proves solid sluicing through snow and slush on mountain roads when caught in a surprise snowstorm in the California desert. Returning to lower altitudes, the LR2鈥檚 performance in deep sand in nearby Pismo Beach arguably exceeds that of an LR3 also frolicking in the dunes. The LR2 is equipped with a permanent intelligent all-wheel-drive system, similar to the one in the new Volvo S80, but customized for Land Rover to jive with Terrain Response. Whereas Volvo鈥檚 AWD system kicks in when sensors detect slippage, Terrain Response dials in the desired control in advance. The Land Rover also has Hill Descent Control, Roll Stability Control and Gradient Release to prevent rolling backward on an incline by releasing the brake in stages. It adds up to a lot of technology and capability for a vehicle that competes primarily with urban utilities. Fortunately, the LR2 is not lacking on the blacktop, with a monococque structure on an independent suspension. In terms of rigidity, its engineers say only the Range Rover and Porsche Cayenne are stiffer than the LR2.
These Land Rovers were the go-to vehicle for folks hunting water buffalo in Botswana or herding sheep in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Of course, this is the history of the Land Rover Defender in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the world. Here in the United States, the Defender is a rare beast, having been sold in low numbers for only four years. Airbag requirements ultimately doomed Land Rover's ability to import the Defender (it didn't have them), and with so few sold, finding one should take considerable time and effort. But for those looking for a dedicated off-road SUV fit for a queen, the Defender is certainly worth the effort. The two-door Land Rover Defender 90 was sold for 1994, 1995 and 1997. (Emissions requirements and low sales resulted in no 1996 model.) There were two body styles available. The convertible came with a standard second-row bench seat and a choice of a full soft top (with roll-up side windows), fastback soft top, "Bikini" half top or no top at all. The hardtop body style debuted in 1995 featuring an aluminum roof with pop-up sunroof, an internal/external "safari cage" and four center-facing rear seats.
NASA has decided to focus the next large orbiter on climatology and atmospheric chemistry. Follow on orbiters could study the surface with a variety of instruments. The ultimate goal of Mars missions for almost two decades, though, has been to return carefully selected samples from the Martian surface. That would allow the incredibly sensitive instruments in Earth laboratories (that couldn鈥檛 be replicated as spacecraft instruments) to be brought to bear in the studies of Mars. We have samples of Mars delivered as meteorites, but we don鈥檛 know where they came from and they don鈥檛 represent the high priority sites scientists want to sample. Money is the obvious challenge. 450-550M (current year dollars) range. 15-20 year plan, or 8-10 Congresses, 4-5 Presidential elections, and probably an economic cycle or two. NASA needs to keep its Mars entry, landing, and descent and rover technology teams together. That is tough to do without a major active program. NASA鈥檚 previous roadmap had the goal of doing the MSR mission as soon as possible. That mission, though, requires new technologies be developed. That new technology development will be suspended to pay for the MSL cost overruns.
The latest model, on sale in the UK for just over six months now, is selling better than ever. The styling update included a new grille, headlamps, foglamps and rear lamps, while the interior gained a 7-inch monitor and smarter surface finish for the dashboard. An electronic parking brake has also liberated more room between the front seats and it has a clever feature which adjusts brake force depending on how steep the slope is you're parked on. Does the Freelander 2 feel forty thousand pounds' worth inside? I recently spent a day and a half driving the new Range Rover Sport - more about that soon but here's a preview - and found myself fairly loved up with its optional 23-speaker Meridian audio system. Where can you put so many speakers, you ask? Well, there were even some in the ceiling above the driver and passenger. The Freelander 2 can also be ordered with an optional top-end system from the same specialist firm. Choose from outputs of 380W (11 speakers) or 825W (17 speakers) but if you're happy with the standard system, you still get 80W and eight speakers.
