The fifth-generation Land Rover Discovery has been revealed by British automaker, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), as it debuts at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.
The three-row, seven-seat SUV is equipped by JLR’s six cylinder petrol and diesel engines, all paired with a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The Discovery Td6 is fitted with a six-cylinder diesel mill that delivers 190kW of power and 600Nm of torque giving it pulling power and efficiency. A supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine is what customers can expect from the Discovery Si6, providing 250kW of power and 450Nm of torque.
The new design is quite a departure from the previous model and is based on the Discovery Vision Concept, that debuted at the 2014 New York Auto Show. There is a clear link between the new Discovery, the Evoque, Discovery Sport and Range Rover, however it does retain its trademark stepped roofline, although this is not as pronounced as before.
‘The stepped profile optimises headroom for passengers travelling in the third row of seats. It also accommodates Discovery’s customary stadium seating configuration, which sees each row of seats positioned higher than the one in front, ensuring every seat is the best seat in the house,’ states the automaker.
The design allows seven adults to sit comfortably in the SUV body measuring less than five metres in length (4 970mm).
The lightweight aluminium monocoque architecture provides strength as well as saving 480kg of weight compared to steel ladder construction, which enhances fuel efficiency.
When it comes to towing, the new Discovery is has the best-in-class towing capacity (3 500kg) and is fitted with Advanced Tow Assist, a feature that takes care of the tricky counter-steering required to position trailers accurately when reversing.
Ground clearance is has increases by 43mm to 283mm, while the manufacturer specifies a maximum wading depth of 900mm (an increase of 200mm).
Land Rover’s multi-mode Terrain Response 2 system and All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) give the machine’s owner confidence off-road.
Interior
The inside of the New Discovery can be customised with a range of premium materials including luxurious Windsor leather upholstery and natural oak veneers.
Only 34 of the 2 400 limited-run ‘First Edition’ models will arrive in South Africa. The ‘First Edition’ will have exclusive features including unique etched map detailing on the aluminium trim for the doors and facia, unique badges, bold colour choices and a comprehensive list of standard equipment.
The new Discovery is fitted with Jaguar Land Rover’s InControl Touch Pro infotainment system that features a large 10-inch touchscreen. The SUV is equipped with up to nine USB ports, six 12-volt charging points and an in-car 3G WiFi hotspot for up to eight devices.
The unique Intelligent Seat Fold technology allows the seven seats to be configured remotely from your smartphone or from inside the cabin.
The premium SUV provides up to 2 500 litres of load capacity, or up to 1 231 litres behind the second row of seats.
The All-New Discovery combines revolutionary design and innovative technology to create the ultimate family SUV. https://t.co/flWuTtt5Ru pic.twitter.com/oXsDQGIzhC
— Land Rover (@LandRover) September 28, 2016