LAND Rover’s Freelander has been improved and upgraded for 2004. The changes include a new interior and external revisions, including new face and tail.

There is an additional derivative, the Freelander Sport, which Land Rover says is its sharpest handling and sportiest production model.

Matthew Taylor, Land Rover’s managing director, said: “The latest changes are designed to improve the premium nature of the Freelander and make it even more desirable and successful vehicle.”

The most obvious enhancements are to the styling. The front bumper, headlamps and front grille are new and adopt the distinctive family face pioneered by the new Range Rover.

The new, twin-pocket clear lens headlamps are similar to those of the Freelander’s big brother, the Range Rover and provide a higher light intensity - improved by 70 per cent. The bumpers are restyled and are now body coloured.

At the rear, the bumpers and lights are new.

The bumpers are body coloured and tail lamps have been repositioned higher in the rear bumper, improving their visibility and reducing the likelihood of them being obscured by road grime or off-roading dust. The cabin has also been restyled.

There are new instruments, fascia, switchgear, door trims and seats that offer better comfort, plus new upholstery fabrics.

There continue to be two body styles on offer: a three-door version, featuring a detachable hard-top or retractable soft-top and a five-door.