DECISION makers in the corporate car sector will be putting Land Rover's crucial new Freelander model to the test two months before it goes on sale. Officials at the revitalised Midlands company are planning to invite key buyers to assess the long-awaited sports utility car as part of extensive trials in Spain, only weeks after its public launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

'This is an outstanding product and the results of our research suggest we should make conquests from many sources - we have a lot to tell corporate buyers about Freelander,' marketing director Jim Campbell said. Full pricing and specification details will be revealed at Frankfurt, but the three and five-door range, to be offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, will come in two trim levels, pitched between £15,000 and £20,000.

A record £8 million will be spent by the BMW subsidiary to promote the launch of the car which is expected to boost annual UK sales by 20,000 when it reaches the showrooms on January 1 next year. Land Rover UK expects 40% of registrations to come from the business sector.