New L/R Discovery Sport brakes cover in Mauritius
Jaguar Land Rover, the British iconic automaker through its Jaguar Land Rover Sub-Sahara Africa (JLRSSA) office in Pretoria, South Africa last week in Indian Ocean island country of Mauritius revealed the world’s most versatile premium compacct Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) for the sub-Sahara Africa market.
The exciting media reveal of the SUV and the first member of the new Discovery family. rapped up by two days of on-and-off road test drive really impressed the motoring journalists numbering about 20 that came in three rotations from the different 8 countries including Nigeria where the Jaguar Land Rover brand has market presence.
Uniquely in its segment, Discovery Sport’s dynamic design combines 5+2 seating configurability with design and engineering integrity in a compact footprint than traditional five seat SUVs. A suite of Land Rover innovations debut, including the next generation multi-link rear axle, an all-new touchscreen infotainment system and state-of-the-art high-strength steel and lightweight aluminium bodyshell for outstanding performance, safety and efficiency.
“This is one of the most pivotal new models in our history, as it expands the Discovery family,” said Richard Gouverneur, managing director, Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa. “It offers the practicality of 5+2 seating and superb capabilities, in a compact premium SUV package.”
Designed and engineered at Land Rover’s development centre in the UK, Discovery Sport will be produced at the company’s award-winning manufacturing facility in Halewood, Liverpool. It goes on sale alongside the existing seven-seat Land Rover Discovery in over 170 markets worldwide.
Designed for life, the Discovery Sport is clearly identifiable as a Land Rover but introduces a progressive new design approach specifically tailored to create clear differentiation between the other families within the Land Rover brand architecture: Luxury (Range Rover), Leisure (Discovery) and Dual-Purpose (Defender).
This beautifully proportioned vehicle brings a new sense of dynamism to the Discovery family and projects an image of confidence with its wheel-at-each-corner stance.
The fast bonnet line steps down into a rising belt line, creating a distinctively compact profile that belies significant interior space with 5+2 seating.
This streamlined design is complemented by class-leading usability: all-round visibility is excellent, whilst the interior and load space are easily accessible and fully optimised.
Discovery Sport’s versatile interior has been designed to be premium, not precious. The centre console forms a strong vertical graphic in the middle of the instrument panel, ensuring key controls are deliberately placed to provide easy access from the Sport’s command driving position.
Simple, clean surfaces and high-quality materials feature throughout.
Lightweight bodyshell, all-new multi-link axle. Monocoque construction combines a mix of high-strength steel, ultra-high-strength boron steel and lightweight aluminium panels. This ensures a strong, stiff and light base for outstanding dynamic performance and high levels of torsional rigidity.
An all-new multi-link rear axle heightens agility, increases axle articulation and – together with lightweight aluminium suspension components and carefully calibrated dampers – enables an unrivalled level of compliance no matter what the surface conditions.
The new rear axle also reduces interior noise and minimises intrusion of the rear suspension turrets into the load space; this has proved key in providing excellent load space and 5+2 seating.
Exceptionally efficient powertrains
At launch, a range of four-cylinder turbocharged petrol and turbodiesel engines is available. All feature stop-start technology, high-pressure direct injection, low-friction internal components and smart regenerative charging for outstanding performance and economy.
Petrol derivatives use an all-alloy Si4 2.0-litre engine with 177kW and direct fuel injection. This offers six-cylinder levels of performance in a compact package that reduces weight and cuts CO2 emissions by up to 20 per cent, compared to conventional larger capacity engines with a similar power output.
Also the 2.2-litre turbodiesel derivatives are available in either 110kW TD4 or 140kW SD4 specification. With both TD4 and SD4 producing the same 420Nm, drivers can count on exceptional fuel efficiency, as well as effortless overtaking ability.
All engine derivatives are mated to an advanced ZF 9HP48 nine-speed automatic transmission, for peerless refinement, efficiency, driver engagement and off-road capability.
Class-leading all-terrain capability
All Discovery Sport models are available with Land Rover’s legendary full-time four-wheel-drive system, to provide an unrivalled combination of on-road agility and off-road capability.
Class-leading off-road capability stands at the core of Land Rover DNA. Naturally, the body geometry has been optimised for even the harshest terrain, with excellent ground clearance, approach, departure and breakover angles, and an ability to wade through water to a class-leading depth of 600mm.
Land Rover’s Terrain Response® system also features on all derivatives, allowing drivers tailor its responses to the prevailing conditions. Up to five settings are available: general; grass/gravel/snow; mud and ruts; and sand. Dynamic mode is optionally available and heightens on-road performance and driver feedback.
MIKE OCHONMA