New Land Rover Discovery Launched in Los Angeles
We were on hand for the launch party of the new Land Rover Discovery in Venice, CA days before the Los Angeles auto show. Upon arrival, it’s immediately apparent how much of a “lifestyle” brand that Land Rover is: the beautifully decorated plaza was covered with Land Rover trinkets, gear and clothing that reflect the character of the brand.
(Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Jaguar Land Rover)
Land Rover envisions that the typical Disco owner is a master of all-terrains, almost as much as the new Discovery itself, as there was a major emphasis on living an active lifestyle and how the Discovery fits into such a life. The event had kayaks, surfboards, skis and mountain bikes, among other things, all on prominent display.
(Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Jaguar Land Rover)
Land Rover brought in professional big wave surfer Laird Hamilton and champion volleyball player and fitness leader Gabby Reece for their personal thoughts on the new Discovery, and how it worked in their day to day lives. Both touted the merits of it’s on road civility and practicality and praised the off-road capability especially in places like Hawaii, where unpaved trails, beach and sand tend to be common through roads for a surfer.
(Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Jaguar Land Rover)
Let’s get to the meat of it, straight from the Land Rover press release we received:
The new Disco will arrive mid-2017, and start at $49,990. There will be 529 examples of the limited “First” edition Discoveries, offering bespoke trim and paint combinations. Ground clearance is rated at 11.1-inches – an increase of 1.7 inches from the LR4 – while a maximum wading depth of 35.4-inches – an increase of 7.9-inches – provides unrivaled confidence when tackling waterlogged trails. The All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) can be programed to maintain a suitable crawl speed as chosen by the driver. The clever technology allows the driver to concentrate solely on steering the vehicle as they negotiate obstacles, without the distraction of operating the throttle or brake pedals, and can also be used from a standstill to help when pulling away on slippery, low traction, surfaces. And crucially, as does seem to be the way with all Jaguar-Land Rover products, the Discovery is aluminum-intensive in it’s design, shedding some one-thousand pounds off the curb weight of the last Disco.
Looking beyond the chassis, the Discovery will have two engine options: a 3.0L supercharged V6 with 340HP/332lb-ft of torque; and a new diesel engine that is a turbocharged V6, producing 254HP/443lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired to an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission.
So that’s the new Disco in the flesh! What do you think?
