Discovery Sport premium SUV arrives Coscharis dealership

Only few days after the Jaguar Land Rover sub-Sahara Africa (JLRSSA) market ended the third and final media rotational media launch and test drive including Business Day in Mauritius, the all-new Rover’s new Discovery Sport, the first member of the new Discovery family, was last Thursday inside the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, unveiled into the Nigerian market by Coscharis Motors Limited.

Available at every Coscharis Motors dealership nationwide with a raft of new features including the next generation multi-link rear axle, an all-new touch-screen infotainment system and a high-strength steel and lightweight aluminium body-shell, most importantly from a customer point of view, it offers 5+2 seating in a premium SUV and measures only 80mm longer than an Evoque.

This lends credence to its claim that this is not a replacement (it’ll be sold alongside the current ‘full-size’ Discovery) but a new niche-filler. At 4590mm long on a 2741mm wheelbase, it is 239mm shorter than the seven-seat Discovery.

Richard Gouverneur, managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Sub Sahara Africa told BusinessDay reporter in Bel Ombre, Mauritius that the car is the first Land Rover tailored to create a clear differentiation between the luxury represented by Range Rover, leisure where the Discovery is situated and dual-purpose Defender ranges.

In terms of engine options, it is available at launch with a choice of one petrol (the 177kW, direct-injection two-litre Si4 turbo), 2.0-litre unit in either 110kW TD4 or 140kW SD4 specification, each rated at 420Nm from just 1700rpm.

The ZF 9HP48 nine-speed paddle shift automatic transmission and Land Rover’s Terrain Response all-wheel drive system, allows the driver you to tailor its drive-train characteristics to prevailing conditions on grass/gravel/snow, mud and ruts, and sand.

It comes with an optional extra Dynamic mode for tauter on-road performance along with variable-ratio, electric power-assisted steering, torque vectoring by braking and 325mm front disc brakes with new-generation calipers and pads.

DiscoSport off-road gizmotronics include hill descent control, hill hold, roll stability control, dynamic stability control, traction control, engine drag torque control and torque vectoring by braking, while the new multi-link rear axle not only increases axle articulation but also minimises intrusion of the rear suspension turrets into the load space – that was crucial in finding space for the third row of seats, as well as in providing a long-legged 800mm wading capability.

Standard kit includes parking sensors, surround camera, auto headlights, high-beams and wipers, trailer stability assist, lane-keeping and extended Satnav, along with halogen headlights and daytime running lights. Higher trim levels feature Signature xenon/LED headlights, while Signature Plus adaptive-cornering technology is optional, and rim sizes vary from 17-20 inches.

Depending on customers choice, tastes and preferences, four trim levels are available: S, SE, HSE and HSE Luxury. The second-row seating has tilt-and-slide, so row-two occupants can recline their seats or slide them forwards or back by 160mm – or load capacity can be increased from 829 litres to as much as 981 litres, while still seating five people.

You can have up to four 12V power points and six USB ports, for charging every phone and iPod in the family at the same time, while Bluetooth connectivity allows two phones to be paired with the car at the same time – one to make or take hands-free calls, the other to play audio.

Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true ‘breadth of capability’ across the model range. Defender, Freelander, Discovery, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque each define the world’s 4×4 sectors, with 80% of this model range exported to over 170 countries.

However, since its reveal in September 2014, Land Rover has amassed 15,000 orders for the new Discovery Sport, with 10,000 orders taken before the vehicle was available to test drive. Currently, Discovery Sport is available in 175 markets, including Nigeria under the dealership of Coscharis Motors.