Concept previews new Discovery SUVs

Published Apr 15, 2014

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By: IOL Motoring Staff

New York - There's a whole new family of Land Rover Discovery vehicles on the horizon and the Discovery Vision Concept showcases the design language that you can expect from the new line-up, which will include replacements for both the current Freelander and Discovery models.

With the new Discovery line-up, Land Rover is aiming to “redefine the leisure SUV category” and the first new model will hit the streets as early as next year.

In design terms, the concept - just revealed ahead of its New York Auto Show debut - is a significant shift from the current Discovery. It's clearly been influenced by the latest Range Rover line-up, although some traditional Discovery motifs like the thick C-pillars and stepped roof are still in place.

Yet the Discovery Vision is a lot more than just a styling taste tester - it also showcases a whole raft of new technologies that Jaguar Land Rover is currently working on.

Inside the futuristic cabin, entertainment for your passengers is sorted by a new multimedia system with snazzy features like Smart Glass that brings augmented reality to the entire glasshouse and seatback-mounted entertainment screens that allow for video calls.

To make the driver's life easier, the concept can be driven at very low speeds, from outside the vehicle, by remote control. This, says Land Rover, will come in very handy for things like trailer hitching and terrain spotting during extreme off-roading.

On that note, the next-generation Terrain Response features an innovative Transparent Bonnet head-up display system that uses cameras and a projection onto the bonnet to create a transparent view of what lies beneath.

Furthermore, Laser Terrain Scanning uses foglamp-mounted lasers to scan the terrain ahead and render a contour map on the high-definition cluster display. The system will even chart out a path forward for the driver on rough tracks and when you get to a river, the Wade Aid sensors will measure the depth of the water for you.

The cabin has seating for seven, but the furniture can be easily rearranged by via the touchscreen menu, which can fold and slide seats automatically and even transform the cabin into 'four-seat limo mode' automatically.

Innovative solutions abound with detachable bespoke luggage that seamlessly integrates into the doors and a deployable rear sill step and fold-out bench seat in the boot that provides 'social seating' for outdoor events.

No need to worry about the family making a mess though, as the cabin is finished in two types of washable Foglizzo premium leather that's resistant to oil and water.

All you really need to remember, then, is the mosquito repellent.

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