NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Land Rover Discovery Concept

Jaguar Land Rover has revealed further details of the evolution of the Discovery nameplate in New York, largely confirming plans for the Disco badge to be worn by a range of vehicles.

Targeted at the ‘leisure’ SUV category, rather than the ‘luxury’ segment in which Ranges Rover sit, the Discovery range is “set to fundamentally enhance the way the drivers around the world take on the adventure of modern life”, says the brand.

The displayed full-size Discovery Concept hints at a future quite removed from the current, more-utilitarian image, with an emphasis on modern design and comfort. This is exemplified by the concept’s handle-less doors, which operate via gesture control. These are a set of predefined hand and/or finger gestures that contribute to the vehicle’s operation.

Other exterior highlights on the concept include aerodynamic side ‘mirrors’ which have embedded cameras to offer a wider field of driver vision, auto-deploying sill steps and LED lighting to assist passenger entry/exit.

On the lighting front, the LED running lights work with laser diodes, which add a distance of over 300 metres to the headlight range. Intelligent dipping and tracking technology is incorporated, employing high definition cameras to dip the beams appropriately when on-coming traffic is sensed.

‘Evolved’ touches include the split tailgate which houses a ‘social’ seat system and is also gesture-controlled. Other detail flourishes features are an automatically-deployed (when the tailgate is opened) “event platform” and hidden wipers to front and rear windows.

Painted in Tribeca Grey, the Discover Vision Concept rides on ‘bright silver turned’ finish, 23-inch, split-five spoke Aero Viper alloys.

The interior continues the clean, modern theme. The Land Rover design team’s brief was “to create the ultimate leisure space”, and the concept features Nimbus and Navy (a contrasting colour for the third-row) premium leather with sky blue contrast stitching.

With a nod to family life, the Foglizzo leather is washable and the Nubuck inserts on the first two rows of are oil and water repellent.

A combination of open pore grey wood veneer and brushed, polished aluminium trims and a SkyLight for the panoramic roof -- again gesture operated -- completes the spacious cabin’s ambience.

In all, there is seating capacity for seven adults, split two-three-two front-middle-rear. Showcasing what might be possible, each passenger has access to infotainment within the cabin.

As befitting a Discovery, the packaging options are varied, the Vision Concept capable of being configured into a four, five or six-seater in addition to its standard seven-seat configuration. Middle and rear rows can be folded to fit flush with the row in front or behind, or can be folded to effectively create increased table space; all operated via the console touchscreen.

The Discovery Vision Concept includes detachable travel luggage that is integrated to the doors. These are hard cases that are equipped with wheels and extendable handles. Picnic and sleeping blankets with cushions are also included.

Two small touchscreens feature on the steering wheel and operate the infotainment system and the traditional employment of indicator stalks has been abolished in favour of gesture control for indicator and headlamp operation. This, according to Land Rover “affords a clear view of the instrument cluster”, which houses a three million pixel resolution screen.

The central arm of the fascia houses two more high-res touchscreens, the lower of the two flipping up to reveal extra storage and an induction pad for recharging smartphones.  A familiar enough rotary gearshift control is included, along with a secondary rotary function which controls terrain response and tow assist functions. Amazingly, this secondary dial can be removed from the vehicle in order to operate the Concept’s radical ‘Remote Control Drive’, which further enhances the Concept’s off-road ability.

Perhaps the most intriguing interior feature is the adoption of smart glass. Capable of displaying imagery similar to a computer screen, it also has the capability to be transparent when required.

By using augmented reality, the glass can overlay real-time information onto the view of the passenger’s surroundings. Eye-tracking sensors then work in conjunction with the sat-nav system to display relevant information on the outside point being observed; say, when you are passing the Empire State Building.

Read the latest news from the New York Motor Show