‘Rough and tough’ new Discovery

THE next Land Rover Defender might still be some way off but in the meantime a ‘rough and tough’ version of the all-new Discovery is thought to be in the pipeline - and it would be built in Coventry.

The special off-road focused variant would be produced at the Coventry car maker’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) Technical Centre in Ryton, which opened last summer.

The extreme 4x4 would echo the Paris Dakar and Camel Trophy offroaders produced by Land Rover to compete in ultimate endurance races where there is as much off-roading required as on-road racing.

Land Rover’s SVO Technical Centre produces modified versions of Jaguar Land Rover products that offer enhanced performance or luxury - or more besides.

So far only a selection of vehicles have been given the special vehicle (SV) treatment but more are set to follow.

It is thought an SV version of the latest Discovery would focus on extreme off-road capability rather than off-road performance.

Insiders have suggested it could be called the Discovery SVX.

An insight into the special project was revealed by Land Rover SVO supremo John Edwards.

Speaking to Auto Express magazine at the recent Geneva Motor Show Mr Edwards said: “I can’t tell you what the SV version of the Discovery will be like but in my mind it will be in between Paris Dakar and Camel Trophy. Somewhere in there is a product waiting to get out.” It is likely a modified Discovery would feature special off-road tyres, additional body cladding, spotlights and a reworked chassis.

An SV version would almost certainly be based on the range-topping 3.0litre TDV6 model.

Speaking to Auto Express, Mr Edwards added: “We plan to introduce a new halo product every year for the next three or four years.”

Land Rover unveiled its latest Discovery at a star-studded event at Packington Hall near Coventry in September last year.

The vehicle recently had its global and UK press launches and is due to hit showrooms this spring.

The new model will be the flagship model in a new Discovery family of vehicles to sit alongside Range Rover and reinvented Defender families.

Prices start from £43,495.