New Generation Land Rover Discovery is lighter, more fuel efficient, spacious and cleaner with sharper modern design than its predecessor
The all-new fifth generation Land Rover Discovery has been revealed at the brand’s HQ in Coventry before being showcased at the Paris Motor Show. It is built on a lighter platform and can go faster than its predecessor with lower emission levels and increased frugality amidst being roomier on the inside. It adopts design cues from the highly significant Discovery Vision concept displayed at the 2014 New York motor show. A new Defender range will be introduced in the next two years as the compact and sleeker looks have been opted for the new Discovery in opposing of a more rugged appearance of the outgoing model.
All engine options are coupled with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Predicted to be the most popular engine, the entry-level 237 bhp twin-turbocharged 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engine delivers a claimed combined fuel economy figure of 43.5mpg (6.49 l/ 100km or 15.4 kmpl) alongside emitting CO2 of 171 g/km. It can sprint from o to 100 kmph in just eight seconds. The middle 3.0 V6 diesel develops 255 bhp and returns 32.9mpg (11.6 kmpl) combined besides 189 g/km of CO2 emission.
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It can do 0-100 kmph three tenths quicker than the base model. The range-heading supercharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 puts out 355 bhp and returns 26.0 mpg (9.2 kmpl) combined with 256 g/km of CO2 emission. With more power, it has a 0-100 kmph acceleration time of just 6.9 seconds. The massive kerb weight reduction of 480 kg helps shaving the Discovery’s frontal area and resultantly a low drag coefficient of 0.33 is achieved. In order to save 20 percent weight over outgoing model, the heavy steel ladder chassis is ditched in favour of a riveted and bonded aluminium monocoque shell currently adopted across the JLR family.
This effectively means that the Discovery can now be produced alongside the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport in Solihull factory. The second and third rows of seats are positioned higher as the traditional stadium seats are replaced to provide enough space for seven occupants. The seats can be remotely configured via 10.0-inch touchscreen or a smartphone app and there’s more luggage space at the back than before.
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As for dimensions, the new Discovery is 140 mm longer and has 40 mm increased wheelbase. The roof height has been reduced by 40 mm due to the shift away from twin-rail chassis but the ground clearance encouragingly gone up by 43 mm. The independent self-levelling air suspension can be lowered by as much as 40mm based on surface conditions as the Discovery claimed as ‘most capable off-roader yet’ has improving wading characteristics. For separate low range of ratios during extreme off-roading scenarios, a transfer box is used with standard 50/50 torque split but the latest Terrain Response 2 system varies toque electronically. The new Discovery will be up for sale globally next year – in S, SE, HSE and HSE Luxury variants – with the India launch expected by the end of 2017.
2017 Land Rover Discovery
