The 5th generation of the Land Rover Discovery is a very crucial product for the Tata-Owned British marque. Not only is it an iconic nameplate that carries quite the rich legacy, but it also becomes crucial in JLR's quest for larger volumes. JLR sales have doubled in just the last 5 years after all. It expects the new Discovery to outsell previous models, and really take on the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC 90 in particular - cars it sees as chef rivals for the 7-seater Discovery.
Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept
The new Discovery is based on the Discovery Vision Concept shown at the 2014 New York Auto Show. Since the Discovery Sport production model was launched soon after at the 2014 Paris Show, it was assumed that the concept had pointed to that car. But on closer inspection the reveal of the new Discovery tells another story, as it broke cover in a special ceremony near its manufacturing base at Solihull, UK! It will also be making its world debut at the Paris Motor Show that kicks off now.
New Land Rover Discovery Side
The new Discovery is lighter, faster and more capable than its predecessor says Land Rover. It has dropped 480 kgs in weight - 284 kgs of that comes from a new body structure that is 85 per cent aluminium. The car also has a magnesium front end, an all aluminium hood, a steel subframe and a composite one-piece tailgate. The latter helps deliver an almost 50:50 weight distribution in the car. The aluminium monocoque also means this is the stiffest Discovery yet, while being the lightest.
The Land Rover Discovery Family
The new car looks very different - moving away from the square shape that has almost become the iconic design hallmark of the Discovery. While it retains some of that trademark boxiness, it gives you curvier design that incorporates Land Rover's new family look - whilst staying bold and upright. Will a diehard Disco fan like it? Maybe not. But the resemblance to the Discovery Sport with which it now forms a vehicle family under the Disco umbrella - will make it easier to swallow for the fanatics. Inside you are met with impeccable finish, new materials, dual tones and great materials. The cabin is roomier (wheelbase is up by 38 mm) and very well appointed, appearing more luxurious while staying very much Discovery in its straight lines and vertical surfaces.
New Land Rover Discovery Comes With 7 Seats
The Discovery first arrived in 1989 as a model to sit between the premium Range Rover and the Land Rover (then christened Defender to allow the entry of Discovery). It was the first major SUV brand to bring in 7 seats, and at the time was the pinnacle of Land Rover's then 40-year history. The second generation was launched in 1998 an introduced a self-levelling suspension and hill descent control.
In 2004 came the third generation car, which brought in the much-touted Terrain Response system and allowed even big adults to sit comfortably in the 3rd row of seats. The outgoing fourth generation car came in 2010 and has not declined in sales - selling 50,000 units in 2015! Overall the Discovery has sold 1.2 million units over 27 years, and as I said with the new generation Land Rover expects sales to accelerate.
New Land Rover Discovery Cabin
So Land Rover is calling it the world's most capable and versatile SUV! It focuses on not just bringing usual Discovery attributes of space, off-road or wading prowess and towing capability, but also aims at being modern, connected and packed with technology. This means an upgraded In Control Touch system in the car, backed by In Control Apps and also a remote app control through a smartphone. It also means clever stowage options (21 of them amounting to 45 litres of stowage space in the cabin, if you please!).
New Land Rover Discovery gets a new Terrain Response system
Plus conveniences like nine USB slots and six 12V charging outlets for all occupants, and the possibility have an on-board Wi-Fi hotspot - with 8 connections possible. The seats are all electrically operated - with 23,000 lines of code written just to be able to operate them, so you can fold or open any seat in a variety of permutations! Each seat also has sensors so it detects if someone or something is on it, and will then not fold down. All this can also be done from your smartphone when you're not near the car! You can also start its heating/cooling, seat warmers, etc. remotely. A truly digital Discovery then! Dropping all seats in the second and third row gives you 2500 litres of cargo space.
New Land Rover Discovery Front
The idea of course is to get not just people Land Rover expects will buy a Discovery anyway, but attract a whole new set of buyers - increasingly younger ones. Sales in Europe will begin in spring 2017. The car debuts with a special 'First Edition' (2400 units carrying special trim and a unique badger) as we have now seen with other recent JLR launches. It will be offered with 3 engine options, and the mainstay will be the 2.0 Ingenium diesel (available with 176 bhp or 235 bhp output options). And at the top of the range are the 3-litre TDV6 diesel (253 bhp) and 3-litre SiV6 petrol (333 bhp).
New Land Rover Discovery wading through water
What you want to know is - will the new Discovery come to India? The answer is yes. The only question that JLR needs to work out is whether it will arrive as an exorbitantly priced import or will be assembled locally. Either way, do not expect to see the car in a hurry. I expect a market debut at the 2018 Auto Expo and a market launch by mid 2018.
