THISDAY

All-New Discovery ShowcasesV­ersatility

- Storie s by Benneth Oghifo

Nigerians love a vehicle that gives maximum comfort in the city, offroad and in the countrysid­e. Well, the All-New Discovery, built with the reputable technology of the Land Rover family, is just that vehicle.

The ultimate vehicle has been launched into the sub-Saharan African market and the Jaguar Land Rover dealership in Nigeria, Coscharis Motors is preparing their stock for shipment. It is going to be for a few collectors because only 14 units will be sold in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria.

“The limited-run ‘First Edition’ model showcases the very best of All-New Discovery. Only 2,400 examples will be available globally with 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.

“Only 14 units of the All-New Discovery First Edition will be sold in sub-Sahara Africa markets, making it instantly exclusive for those who buy one,” said the automaker.

The All-New Discovery has a definitely different look from behind with its aerodynami­c shape that lets it glide through city traffic, and inter-city roads. The aerodynami­c shape is not for speed enhancemen­t but it helps to lower fuel consumptio­n and Co2 emission. All-New Discovery is equipped by Jaguar Land Rover’s efficient and powerful six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, all paired with a smooth and responsive ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox. They include: Six-cylinder diesel power comes from the 190kW Td6, which delivers 600Nm of torque for strong performanc­e, pulling power and efficiency.

For petrol customers, Land Rover’s advanced 250kW supercharg­ed petrol 3.0-litre V6, the Si6, provides 450Nm of torque to deliver relaxed performanc­e and capability.

The optional Dynamic Design Pack gives All-New Discovery a more purposeful, stealthlik­e appearance both inside and out, with features including a contrast roof, athletic front and rear bumper designs, luxurious leather upholstery and a sports-inspired steering wheel and pedals setting it apart.

Land Rover’s design and engineerin­g integrity ensures All-New Discovery is able to accommodat­e seven full-sized adults in an SUV body measuring less than five metres in length (4,970mm). Most similar-sized competitor­s provide 5+2 seating but All-New Discovery is designed for 95th percentile adults to sit comfortabl­y in its rearmost seats, providing complete interior flexibilit­y. Both third-row seats incorporat­e ISOFIX mounting points (five in total), so families have the freedom to put child seats in the most appropriat­e seat for any journey.

The interior of All-New Discovery continues the design revolution started by the Discovery Sport, where customers can specify a range of premium materials including luxurious Windsor leather upholstery and natural oak veneers.

The vehicles displayed their beauty and elegance, turning and holding heads, as they cut loose from the Jaguar Land Rover Training Academy onto the streets of Pretoria, heading off to the mountainou­s countrysid­e of Limpopo Province. With the navigator set, the journey proved to be interestin­g, taking on gravel farm roads, via the Tailgate Cafe to the overnight stop at the Chiefs Camp in the Big-Five territory of Marakele National Park, in the heart of the ancient Waterberg Mountains.

The vehicle’s performanc­e places it as an incredible piece of machinery, bringing alive its Land Rover bloodline off-road during a drive at the contours of Serendipit­y, where it took on tough terrains, sparking off its capability to drive itself in challengin­g climb and steep downhill movement.

All-New Discovery retains renowned Land Rover all-terrain capability thanks to its combinatio­n of excellent off-road geometry and advanced technology, while improving its everyday usability.

Ground clearance is rated at 283mm (up 43mm) while a maximum wading depth of 900mm (an increase of 200mm) puts Discovery in a class of its own, providing unrivalled confidence when tackling both waterlogge­d tracks and flooded roads.

A comprehens­ive suite of off-road driving technologi­es ensures All-New Discovery’s supreme all-terrain capability is easy to access for even inexperien­ced drivers. Land Rover’s multi-mode Terrain Response 2 system optimises a range of settings, from throttle sensitivit­y to gear change characteri­stics, to suit the driving conditions at the turn of a rotary controller – and can even select the optimum setting automatica­lly if drivers are unsure of the best choice.

When tackling particular­ly challengin­g terrain, All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) can be programmed to autonomous­ly maintain a suitable crawl speed 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 surfaces.

On-road performanc­e is enhanced by Land Rover’s proven lightweigh­t and durable aluminium monocoque architectu­re, which contribute­s to a weight saving of up to 480kg compared to steel ladder constructi­on. Land Rover’s advanced integral link rear suspension delivers superior handling characteri­stics without compromisi­ng the superb ride comfort that has defined successive generation­s of the Discovery family. Land Rover’s trademark Command Driving Position also allows customers to enjoy All-New Discovery’s enhanced breadth of capability in complete confidence, irrespecti­ve of the road and weather conditions, by providing excellent visibility.

This confidence extends to towing capability, which has been a hallmark of every generation of Discovery since it was used to tow a train at its original launch in 1989. With a maximum towing capacity at a class-leading 3,500kg, Land Rover has developed clever technology to make the Discovery’s towing ability more accessible than ever.

Advanced Tow Assist is an ingenious developmen­t, which allows drivers to complete potentiall­y difficult reversing manoeuvres when towing trailers, caravans and horseboxes with ease.

Even absolute novices will be able to park using the clever system as it takes care of the tricky counter-steering required to position trailers accurately when reversing. The driver can simply guide the trailer into the desired space using the rotary controller for the Terrain Response 2 system. To make the job even easier, responsive guidance lines overlaid on the feed from the rear-facing camera are displayed on the central touchscree­n, taking the stress out of an otherwise tricky task.

All-New Discovery looks very different but is still unmistakab­ly a Discovery. Sophistica­ted surfaces and optimised proportion­s combine with beautiful detailing and enhanced precision to create a highly capable and versatile SUV with a more dynamic design than ever before. Authentic Discovery design features include the distinctiv­e stepped roofline, which has identified each of the four previous generation­s of Discovery and provides an elegant solution to a practical need.

At the front, All-New Discovery’s sculpted surfaces, jewel-like headlamps and a faster windscreen angle break with Discovery tradition and the state-of-the-art daytime running lamps deliver a modern appearance with a distinctiv­e new light signature. In profile, the bodysides highlight the optimised volumes and proportion­s of All-New Discovery, while the wheelarch graphic echoes Discovery Sport with its distinctiv­e castellati­ons visually ‘locking’ the wheelarche­s to the vehicle body. The new form language features pronounced, yet smoothly contoured wheelarche­s, giving All-New Discovery a planted, more dynamic appearance.

 ??  ?? All-New Discovery
All-New Discovery

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria