Concepts and prototypes : Rover Oden/Land Rover Pathfinder (1992-1995)

11 January 2021 Keith Adams 7

The Land Rover Freelander underwent a rather convoluted development programme; it started out as a joint Rover Cars/Land Rover project to produce a vehicle to compete in the emerging SUV market, as epitomised by the Suzuki Vitara…

The initial projects crystallised into the Rover Oden and Land Rover Pathfinder. It was the latter that survived into maturity and, once the project was sanctioned by management, in the mid-1990s, it was renamed CB40 and subsequently became the Land Rover Freelander.

The new SUV generation: Oden and Pathfinder

Pathfinder (left) and Oden (right)
Pathfinder (left) and Oden (right)

As can be seen, the Land Rover Pathfinder was the more "rugged" of the two designs, and it was this that went on to become the CB40. The Rover Oden had potential as a "school run special", and its lack of a four-wheel-drive transmission system would not have been a disadvantage, give the market it was aimed at. Consider it a latter-day Matra-Rancho.
As can be seen, the Land Rover Pathfinder was the more ‘rugged’ of the two designs, and it was this that went on to become the CB40. The Rover Oden had potential as a Qashqai-style family SUV, and its lack of a four-wheel-drive transmission system would not have been a disadvantage, give the market it was aimed at. Consider it a latter-day Matra-Simca Rancho

Land Rover Pathfinder

Three- and five-door schemes: many of the final styling elements were in place as early as 1992, when these models were displayed at Canley's viewing area. Note the front bumper treatment of the five-door, and the rear windows on the three-door; items that made it into production with little modification.
Three- and five-door schemes: many of the final styling elements were in place as early as 1992, when these models were displayed at Canley’s viewing area. Note the front bumper treatment of the five-door, and the rear windows on the three-door; items that made it into production with little modification
Testing frontal arrangements with a double-sided clay model.
Testing frontal arrangements with a double-sided clay model

Project CB40

Gerry McGovern was drafted in to oversee the final styling of CB40, and his influences can be seen in the way that this design possesses more solidity than the earlier models, yet manages to look good as well. Only small details would change between these models and the production version. Interestingly, one of these changes was made by Bernd Pischetsrieder when he first viewed the model in 1994.
Gerry McGovern was drafted in to oversee the final styling of CB40, and his influences can be seen in the way that this design possesses more solidity than the earlier models, yet manages to look good as well. Only small details would change between these models and the production version. Interestingly, one of these changes was made by Bernd Pischetsrieder when he first viewed the model in 1994

Styling sketches

Wierd and wacky perhaps, with a touch of Judge Dredd, but there are elements of the Freelander contained within; especially in the yellow car...
Weird and wacky perhaps, with a touch of Judge Dredd, but there are elements of the Freelander contained within – especially in the yellow car…

Pictures taken from ‘Meet the ancestors’ by James Taylor, Land Rover Enthusiast magazine and Autocar magazine.

Keith Adams
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7 Comments

  1. I remember seeing them on test using Maestro van bodies with the four wheel drive running gear underneath heading to Bath

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  2. hi,
    i remember the landrover disco/discovery 2 cars alway together with jaguar badges driving around the m50 in dublin anyone know was this the norm !,around 2000 to 2002 ish.

    Reply

  4. The codename CB40 was derived from the location of much of the engineering team at the start of the project – Canley Building 40.

    The same applies to the second-gen Range Rover – P38A.

    Block 38A is at Solihull and also housed the Freelander team when they moved from Canley in the mid-90s and much of the third-gen Range Rover team from 1999.

    Both buildings have since been demolished.

    Reply

  5. I saw a Mk1 Freelander yesterday and thought it still looked stylish and “right”

    Indeed there have been a series of well styled models, the Freelander 2, Disco Sport and RR Evoque are all good looking cars, stunning in the case of the Evoque 1.

    Reply

  6. Never understand why didn’t the go with the oden as well. A soft roader added to the range developed at the same time would not have cost much more, and would have increased Sales as they would be aimed at different markets.

    Reply

  7. Was the R8 used as a starting point for Oden/Pathfinder? Though it has been said there was no relation between what became the Freelander and the Honda CR-V, is it possible there is some connection to what became the smaller Honda HR-V?

    The idea is that the HR-V is said to be related to the smaller Honda Logo with the latter reputedly being based on a shortened and modified previous generation Civic/Civic-derived platform to reduce costs, similar to how the 3rd gen Honda City was based on the 4th gen Civic (with claims the 2nd gen City was derived from a shortened 3rd gen Civic based on their near matching width).

    Reply

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