Land Rover has officially revealed the next-gen 2017 Discovery. This marks the introduction of the 5th-generation of the Discovery moniker, which was originally introduced in 1989. It is expected to go on sale in the second quarter of next year. Land Rover claims to have sold 1.2 million units of the Discovery in the last 27 years.
The all-new Discovery is based on the Discovery Vision Concept, which the British automaker had showcased at the 2014 New York Auto Show. It features a softer and an urban-inclined design, especially when compared to its rather boxy predecessors. The exterior design is an evolution of other cars in Land Rover's portfolio, including the Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque.
It is built on an aluminum monocoque chassis, that the company claims to have brought in a weight saving of around 480 kg, as compared to conventional steel ladder frames. The 2017 Discovery is also said to be the stiffest and lightest Discovery ever developed by the automaker.
On the inside, the new Discovery gets a three row, seven seat layout. The company is offering 5 interior colour options: Nimbu, Acorn, Glacier, Ebony and Vintage Tan. The new model has an increased wheelbase of 38 mm, which translates to slightly better cabin space. The second and third row of seats can be adjusted using switches located just inside the tailgate, the infotainment system or even through a smartphone app (part of Land Rover's InControl Touch Pro Services).
The 2017 Land Rover Discovery will be available in 5 trims: S, SE, HSE, HSE Luxury and First Edition. The First Edition trim has been launched to celebrate the introduction of the new Discovery, and will only be limited to 600 units.
Features on offer with the 5th-gen Discovery include adaptive LED headlamps, daytime running lights (DRLs), LED tail lamps, 22-inch wheels, electric sunroof, 5-inch instrument cluster display, coloured heads-up display, configurable ambient lighting, InControl Touch Pro with a 10-inch high-resolution touchscreen display and a 17-speaker Meridian audio system.
Engine options available with the 2017 Discovery include:
• 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel - 237 BHP and 500 Nm
• 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 diesel - 254 BHP and 600 Nm
• 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol - 335 BHP and 450 Nm
All engines are offered with an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox, while a four-wheel drive system is standard across the range.