Changing the climate
For better, for worse.
Lockdown means I haven’t done many miles in the Discovery Sport this month; it’s been parked up looking a bit downcast and ignored. Still, being stuck at home means I had the chance to check out a hitherto unexplored dimension of Disco ownership, the Land Rover Remote app.
After linking your car to your InControl account using the VIN number, the app allows you to check the car’s location, its fuel range, to see if it’s locked and alarmed, and the status of things like tyre pressures and AdBlue levels. You can also download your journey history, including your route and mileage statistics, which you can then export in Excel format, which is handy for claiming expenses.
Best of all, though, is the ability to start the engine and set the cabin temperature. This is a slightly freaky thing to do, especially if like us you don’t have a drive, and the car is parked up on the street round the corner. The first time I tried it, I had to go out and check the car – there it was in the dark, locked and lights off, but with the engine running and the heating on. I know none of this technology is brand new but it still felt like I had magical powers.