Land Rover’s all-new Discovery Sport

Discovery Sport can wade through water to a depth of 600 mm.

Land Rover Philippines unveils the new Land Rover Discovery Sport, considered as the world’s most versatile compact SUV that features a dynamic and flexible seating layout combining five-plus-two seating configurability,  albeit a more compact footprint than traditional five-seater SUVs.

True to the Land Rover spirit of outdoor lifestyle and adventure, this new model hosts a suite of innovations, including the next-generation multilink rear axle, advanced pedestrian airbag technology, an all-new touchscreen infotainment system and state-of-the-art, high-strength steel and lightweight aluminum body shell, promising outstanding performance, safety and efficiency.

“Design excellence and engineering integrity are hallmarks of every Land Rover model. Discovery Sport embodies that spirit and emerges as the most accomplished vehicle in its segment,” said Wellington Soong, chair and president of LR Philippines Motors Inc.

Designed and developed at Land Rover’s development center in the United Kingdom, the new Discovery Sport will be assembled at Land Rover’s award-winning manufacturing facility in Halewood, Liverpool.

Highly efficient

It offers a range of highly efficient four-cylinder gas or diesel engines, in two- or four-wheel-drive platforms, mated with advanced nine-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmissions.

THANKS to Land Rover’s Terrain Response system, all its four-wheel-drive variants allow drivers to tailor the Discovery Sport’s responses to prevailing road conditions.

Its gasoline engine variants use an all-alloy Si4 2-liter engine with direct fuel injection rated at  236.71 horsepower, offering six-cylinder levels of performance but in a smaller engine unit that reduces weight and cuts carbon dioxide emissions by up to 20 percent compared to conventional, larger-capacity engines with a similar power output.

Its 2.2-liter turbodiesel engine variants come in either TD4 with  147.95 HP or SD4 or  187.40 HP, with the same amount of 420 Newton-meters of torque.

All engine derivatives can be specified with an advanced ZF 9HP48 nine-speed automatic transmission for peerless refinement, efficiency, driver engagement and offroad capability.

A six-speed manual M66 gearbox is also available for diesel models. It has a CO2 emission rating of as low as 119 g/km, which is comparable to smaller and less versatile family hatchbacks.

The monocoque construction is a combination of high-strength steel, ultrahigh-strength boron steel and lightweight aluminum panels, providing a strong, stiff and light chassis with high levels of torsional rigidity.

Its all-new multilink rear axle promises better agility, at the same time increases axle articulation—especially useful while negotiating rocky terrain.

Its lightweight aluminum suspension components and carefully calibrated dampers provide an unrivaled handling in its class, no matter what the surface conditions.

A newly designed rear axle also reduces interior noise and minimizes intrusion of the rear suspension turrets on the load space.

The current available variants feature stop-start technology, high-pressure direct injection, low-friction internal components and smart regenerative charging for outstanding performance and economy.

Like in all other Land Rover models, the Discovery Sport’s offroad prowess is largely thanks to its body geometry, designed for the harshest terrain and featured excellent ground clearance, with excellent approach, departure and breakover angles. It is also  able to wade through water up to a depth of 600 millimeters.

A NEWLY DESIGNED rear axle reduces interior noise and minimizes intrusion of the rear suspension turrets on the load space.

Thanks to Land Rover’s Terrain Response system, all its four-wheel-drive variants allow drivers to tailor the Discovery Sport’s responses to the prevailing road conditions.

It has five settings—general, grass/gravel/snow, mud, ruts, and sand terrain. These settings would allow the Discovery Sport to be able to negotiate to the most demanding on- and offroad conditions.

Safety and driver assist features of the Discovery Sport include a pedestrian airbag, autonomous emergency braking, electric power-assisted steering, park assist, automatic high-beam assist, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, trailer stability assist, tow assist and tow hitch assist, blind spot monitor and closing vehicle sensing, reverse traffic detection, HD surround camera system, HDD satellite-navigation system, automatic headlamps, rain-sensitive wipers, and parking sensors.

First to feature

What’s more, this model is the first to feature its heads up display (HUD) as it debuts on the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Using advanced laser technology, it projects key driving data including road speed, gear position and satellite-navigation directions onto a compact area of the windscreen in the driver’s line of sight.

This HUD feature allows drivers to safely access information while keeping their eyes on the road.

BOLD and progressive design defines the new Discovery family.

Inside the cabin, an advanced new infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen welcomes its driver and passengers.

Other electronic goodies include Land Rover’s InControl Apps, which enables vehicle-optimized smartphone apps to be displayed and controlled with their original look and feel on the vehicle’s touchscreen infotainment system.

Developed in conjunction with Bosch SoftTec, owners can simply download Land Rover InControl Apps to their smartphone and connect it to the vehicle’s dedicated USB port to enable compatible apps to function on the Discovery Sport’s touchscreen.

For more information, visit LR Philippines Motors  at 32nd and 4th, Crescent Park, West Bonifacio, or log on to ww.landrover.com.ph.