In the 25 years since its launch, the Land Rover Discovery has carved an enviable reputation for itself – from deserts, jungles and barren peaks, where its unrivalled capability sees it through the harshest terrain, to cities and country tracks worldwide, where its distinctive blend of spacious design and innovative versatility have made it a global success, winning numerous awards and clocking up impressive sales figures.
The Discovery is now on a journey of transformation and is set to change the face of the next generation too. From 2015 onwards, the Discovery nameplate will be borne by not just a single model but a distinct range of vehicles that symbolize the essence of the premium, lifestyle-orientated SUV in the leisure category.
The Discovery Concept, unveiled at the 2014 New York International Auto Show, is a vision into the future of Land Rover’s new family of leisure vehicles. Though a full-size SUV, it looks remarkably compact. This has been achieved through a combination of well-considered design elements such as wrap-around headlamps and tail lamps and the short front and rear overhangs serving to reduce the visual length.
The advanced interior is both spacious and versatile. By folding the seats flat or sliding them forward or back, via the touchscreen menu, the vehicle can be converted from its standard 2+3+2 seven-seat layout to a six-seat, five-seat or even a four-seat ‘limousine’ mode. Detachable, carry-away stroller-style luggage is seamlessly integrated into the vehicle doors, while accessories cleverly integrated into the seatbacks offer high levels of convenience to the passengers seated behind. A versatile evolution of the Discovery’s tailgate incorporates a powered, single-piece design; in conjunction with a deployable rear sill step and a folding bench seat in the loading area. On its own, the sill step can also be fitted with a bike/ski rack.
Advanced technologies under development make their debut on the Discovery Vision Concept, taking SUV capability to the next level. Land Rover’s vision of next-generation Terrain Response is a system that can proactively utilise a variety of intelligent HMI and capability technologies, giving the driver the confidence to tackle virtually any terrain with ease.
The innovative Transparent Bonnet head-up display system offers an unimpeded view of the ground immediately ahead, enhancing driver ability and confidence. Cameras fitted below the grille are paired with the Head-Up Display integrated into the windscreen. While traversing challenging terrain, the imagery can be projected onto the windscreen, so that it appears as if the vehicle’s bonnet is, in effect, transparent.
Laser Terrain Scanning utilises infrared lasers emitted from the front fog-lamps to continuously scan the terrain being traversed, and renders a contour map on the high-definition instrument cluster display. This mapping can be paired with the All-Terrain Coach guidance system to chart out a path and assist the driver in navigating it.
Lasers are also used by the next-generation Wade Aid sensory system to measure the depth of water even before the car enters it, and inform the driver of the feasibility of the intended wading manoeuvre. All-Terrain Progress Control enables semi-autonomous off-road driving at a steady speed across varying terrain.
Details of the power train are not revealed yet, stay tuned for updates over the next two weeks.
