Land Rover upgrades its Disco 4
Updated technology and greener engine are part of mid-life facelift to legendary offroader
LAND Rover’s fourth-generation Discovery, the brand’s luxury goanywhere SUV, has received a mid-life upgrade in South Africa. Along with the customary facelift there’s some updated technology as well as a greener new petrol engine.
Under the bonnet, the 276kW/510Nm five-litre normally aspirated V8 petrol engine makes way for a supercharged three-litre V6 with outputs of 250kW and 450Nm. Although packing less power than the V8, the smaller supercharged engine should have very similar if not better performance at high altitudes, along with a cleaner carbon footprint. There’s a claimed fuel consumption improvement from 14.1 to 12 litres per 100km with an attendant decrease in C02 emissions.
The one I drove in Botswana on the media launch last week displayed no deficiencies in the acceleration department and got going with very determined gusto. I experienced much the same effect in the SDV6 turbodiesel, which remains as the gutsy but economical choice in the range with its outputs of 183kW and 600Nm, and claimed consumption of 8.8 litres per 100km. Also still available is the TDV6, a detuned version of the three-litre turbodiesel with outputs of 155kW/520Nm (and 8.5 litres per 100).
All engines are paired with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, with high and low ratios, height-adjustable air suspension and a Terrain Response system that caters to various road and off-road conditions the great outdoors throws at you. By flicking a switch you can select a programme best suited to a prevailing surface – such as sand, rocks, snow and mud.
Botswana, like South Africa, was last week pummelled with rain which turned the Discovery’s media launch, held on mostly dirt roads, into a soggy quagmire at times. The Discovery’s off-road ability is legendary and the conditions proved little challenge for it. We remained comfy in the plush cabins while the vehicle squirmed and sloshed through the mud, with not one vehicle in our convoy getting stuck.
New technology on the upgraded Discovery includes a Wade Sensing function inherited from the Range Rover. Offered as an optional extra on the Discovery HSE grade, it uses the TFT screen to display the water level of the puddle you’re crossing and warns you if you’re approaching the vehicle’s maximum 700mm wading depth. It’s a clever bit of technology that can help prevent the engine taking a potentially very expensive gulp of water.
Other new high-tech safety features in the 2014 Discovery include a Blind Spot Monitor, Closing Vehicle Sensing, and Tjunction Cameras which give drivers a 180 degree-plus view at an intersection via the TFT screen. The SE and HSE models are now fitted with Meridian premium audio systems.
An uprated navigation system’s also become available, featuring Tracks4Africa which employs maps generated by the 4x4 community to guide you through rural areas in impressive detail. For example, in Angola it maps nearly 20 000 roads and tracks, and details more than 2 500 points of interest.
As part of its exterior refresh the 2014 Discovery gets daytime running lights with a distinctive LED signature on the upper mod- els, black-mask rear lights, redesigned grille and front bumper, and two new alloy wheel designs. For the first time the Discovery name replaces Land Rover on the bonnet and the number 4 is removed from the tailgate, leaving just the word Discovery.
The 2014 Discovery is available in local showrooms straight away. In September, the range will be joined by Discovery XXV Special Edition, unveiled at this week’s Geneva show, which commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Disco’s launch.