NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Discover(y) off-road
Discovery Vision Concept hints at Land Rover's next-gen 4WD capabilitiesIf the Discovery Vision Concept’s tech-laden interior and exterior features moved the game too far away for a Land Rover traditionalist, then the effort put into the concept’s off-road capabilities should bring them swooning back.
The Discovery Vision Concept features the latest in Land Rover’s off-road thinking, with Remote Control Drive being a particular highlight.
Operated via the removable secondary rotary dial housed in the centre console, or via a smartphone or tablet app linked to the car’s encrypted WiFi, Remote Control Drive promises to assist in the toughest of conditions, for example when judging if the vehicle can squeeze between that rock and the hard place.
Land Rover also highlights its broader application, when coupling to a trailer or driving through gates.
A ‘vision’ of what the app would look like displayed a digital steering wheel, which the controller operated with their fingertips. Forward and reverse options were also available.
Cameras are also used to create what Land Rover calls a transparent bonnet. Under-grille cameras record the terrain passing underneath and project it onto the vehicle’s heads-up display, creating the illusion of a see-through bonnet.
The Discovery Vision Concept’s front foglights can emit infrared lasers that can be deployed to scan the approaching terrain, providing the driver with a mapped image on an interior screen to better prepare for potential hazards.
When in trouble, the laser technology can also project visible images onto the road, alerting others to any issues – think emergency triangle or caution sign.
What may scare some is the level of automation, but fear not; Land Rover says that the systems can be disengaged if preferred.
“We see the autonomous car taking away the boring, the tedious, the routine part of the journey while allowing the driver to actively stay in contact, do some work, or relax with the vehicle’s infotainment system,” said Dr Wolfgang Epple, JLR’s Research and Technical Director.
“But when the driver wants to enjoy the driving experience, our new driver assistance systems will give them more. A smarter car should not take away driving pleasure – it should enhance the driver’s experience on- and off-road.”
The next-generation of the familiar Terrain Response System is fitted along with automatic high/low engagement and the latest in hill descent control. The Discovery Vision Concept also brings wet grass traction control, low-speed steering assist and Wade Aid, which uses lasers to gauge water depth.
As well as the traditional terrain response settings, there are three levels of autonomous control. All Terrain Progress Control is a semi-autonomous low-speed cruise control system with torque vectoring, All Terrain Coach recommends off-road settings given set terrain and the Enhanced All Terrain Coach actually sets a specific route across the surface, offering a step-by-step terrain selection process.
Much of this technology hints at what we may see when the first production Discovery models come on-stream in 2015.
“Our vision is to offer a choice of an engaged or autonomous drive,” adds Dr Epple. “Ultimately this means the car could drive itself if the driver chooses, and have intelligent systems that can be adjusted for a more engaging and involved drive. A Jaguar Land Rover Intelligent vehicle will become a reality within the next 10 years,” he said.
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