Land Rover is celebrating its most successful year in the UK with sales of 45,033 vehicles in 2001, 15 per cent up on the previous year.

The best selling model in the range was the Freelander with 24,812 sales, an increase of 19 per cent on 2000. The Land Rover Discovery recorded sales of 11,528 units, 17 per cent up. The Range Rover sold 3,545 vehicles, an increase of three per cent. And sales of the Defender were up one per cent to 5,148 units.

The carmaker is confident the introduction of the new Range Rover, which goes on sale on February 15, will boost sales further.