PARIS MOTOR SHOW: Discovery prices up, range expands

A significant price rise, a tripling of the model line-up from three to nine and the reintroduction of turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines for the first time since the 1990s are key local points of interest in the all-new, lighter and more luxurious fifth-generation Land Rover Discovery.

Revealed overnight in Paris and on-sale in Australia next July (2017), the Discovery is new from stem to stern, uses aluminium-intensive construction and is up to a spectacular 480kg lighter.

So far Jaguar Land Rover Australia has only revealed the starting price for the 2017 range, which is $81,950 for the seven-seat SE Td4. This is an increase of more than $12,000 from the current $69,345 TDV6 entry point, confirming the iconic hard-core 4x4 will be heading upmarket.

The nine-model range will be split among three engine choices; two different tunes of the new Ingenium 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, dubbed SD4 as well as Td4 and a single 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel dubbed Td6. There are currently no plans for a petrol engine to join the range Down Under.

All engines will be mated with ZF eight-speed automatic transmissions and Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 4WD system. However, in a sign of changing times, Discovery will for the first time be available without a low range set of crawler gears.

“Everybody buys the off-road dream which Discovery offers,” JLRA spokesman James Scrimshaw told motoring.com.au.

“But a single-speed transfer case is going to cover what most people want.”

The new Disco 5 will retain a 3500kg braked towing capacity, but adds a new Tow Assist function for those who struggle to reverse into tricky spaces. The feature launches in Australia on MY17 Range Rover Sport and Range Rover models ahead of Discovery.

All Discovery 5s will offer seven seats, although a five-seat version is expected to be available later. Passengers are housed in a body 4970mm long (+141mm), 2220mm wide with mirrors out (equivalent) and 1846mm tall (-41mm). It has a 2923mm wheelbase (-38mm).

Model grades will rise from SE through HSE to HSE Luxury, reflecting the model graduation also on offer with little brother Discovery Sport. Each engine will be available in each grade. The base level Sport grade will not be offered in Australia.

A First Edition will be offered at launch, with Australia snaffling around 100 examples of the cosmetically enhanced and up-specced global run of 2400.

The Disco’s push upmarket reflects a massive amount of technology and development cost poured into the vehicles, as well as the need to make space for the smaller Discovery Sport.

The Sport has usurped the Discovery’s place as the most popular model in the entire line-up offered by JLRA. In 2015 Discovery accounted for almost exactly one third of Land Rover sales in Australia, but go back to the late 1990s and early noughties and it frequently topped 50 per cent.

Scrimshaw told motoring.com.au the importance of Discovery remained high even as its role changed.

“The Discovery has been our staple since day dot and has been very important in terms of bringing people into the brand because people stay with it a long time,” he said.

“That seven seater SUV is something we have always been able to offer and it’s something that people have an affinity with. Discovery is the most tangible Land Rover [model] in most people’s lives.”

The new four-cylinder engines produce less power and torque than the V6s they replace but the Discovery’s massive weight reduction plays a key role in achieving better performance and fuel economy. Both Ingenium specs undercut the 7.0L/100km luxury car tax exemption.

The Td4 version of the Ingenium 2.0 produces 132kW/430Nm, consumes a claimed 6.3L/100km, emits 163g/km and claims a 0-100km/h dash time of 10.5sec. The current TDV6 3.0-litre base model makes 155kW/520Nm, averages 8.8L/100km/230g CO2/kg and reaches 100km/h in 10.7 sec.

With the aid of sequential turbocharging, a first for Land Rover, the still 2.0-litre Sd4 engine makes 177kW/500Nm, averages 6.5L/100km, emits 171g CO2/km and accelerates from 0-100km/h in 8.3sec. The current twin-turbo SDV6 engine the four is effectively replacing makes 183kW/600Nm, averages 8.8L/100km, emits 230g CO2/km and is a second slower to 100km/h.

The Td6 is the uprated version of that same engine, now making 190kW/600Nm, averaging 7.2L/100km, emitting 203g CO2/100km and accelerating from 0-100km/h in 8.1sec.

Scrimshaw admitted JLRA would be watching the return of four-cylinder power to Discovery for the first time since 1998 with bated breath.

“We do not know how the market is going to react,” he admitted.

“Dealers can’t place orders yet, customers can’t place orders yet because no-one knows the pricing, the spec or the model line-up.”

While equipment levels for Australia haven’t been completely resolved, it has been confirmed the SE will feature 19-inch alloy wheels, air suspension, dual zone automatic climate control, upgraded audio, satellite navigation, 12x12-way grained leather electric seats, front and rear parking sensors with reversing camera, towing armature and electrics, full-size spare wheel and LED headlights.

HSE will include memory seats and electric steering column adjustment, bright tread-plates, in-fascia storage, fold-out, tri-zone climate control, keyless entry, powered external and internal tailgate, Meridian 380W sound system, professional satellite navigation system with 10-inch touchscreen, 20-inch alloy wheels and LED signature tail-lights.

HSE Luxury includes 16x16-way seat-position memory, Windsor leather upholstery, winged headrests and climate front seats, extended leather throughout the interior, five colour configurable interior mood lighting, a panoramic sunroof, chrome-finish door handles, front centre cooler compartment, surround camera system, Meridian Surround Sound System and digital television.

First Edition will be available in three colour combinations, three interior trims and bespoke details include aluminium interior trim on the fascia and doors featuring an etched map motif in celebration of new Discovery’s British design and engineering credentials.

Important safety equipment that will feature in Discovery includes autonomous braking with new pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with queue assist (auto steer), lane keep assist and semi-autonomous parallel or perpendicular park assist.