Top Car

2016 ’s MOST WANTEDTHE 2004Discovery wasarguably the least ‘styled’carofthe decade. Four doorswithout crease or contour,ugly but protective plasticwheelarches, myriadsquareorrectangular motifsfromtherearmost sideglass tothe chunkyfront bumper,Geoff Upex’s creation wasa Bauhaus masterpiece:maximumfunctionality,minimumadornment. Totheseeyes, it was anicon.ToLandRover, it was apolarisingdesign statement that repelledtoo manyprospects, andithad togo.Sothis isthe new Discovery,coming summer 2016.Admittedly, it’s the 20 14 Visionshowcar, but that carIS the newDiscovery, downtoitsslantedwaistline, slittylamps andsculpted bodysides. It’s everyinch the vogueishcrossover,rather than bluff SUV. Here’swhatelseyou canexpect.1THE CONCEPTRange Rover majorson luxury, Defenderoncapability, andtheDiscoveryfamily is all aboutversatility. ‘In Discoveryyou’ll see an absolutefocuson this: they’ll be the mostversatile cars in thesegmentsin which theycompete,’ then-group marketing directorPhil Pophamtold TopCar.‘Discoverys will offer efficientand creativeuseofspace,re-configurabilityespeciallyof seating position, andthe``````abilitytotakeseven peoplecomfortably.’Sofar, sofamiliar. One detailthat is changing istoday’stwo-piecetailgate, whichmakes way for aconventionalhatchback. Expectthere tobea clever fold-outshelf, whichyou canusefor apicnic table/seat/paparazzi shots ofthenextroyal baby. Versatile,eh?2THETOYSTheDisco’s fiverearseats will fold, slide andstowindependently,andwill befully motorised.Expectthe configurationprocess tobe effortlessandoptions almostlimitless.Ifthere’s fourofyou,power themiddle row out ofthe way andwallow in legroomtoshamea limousine. Seats will foldinto mini-tables too.Sadly alot ofthe Discovery Visionconcept’s technologiesaren’tyet ready for production–remote-control driving andlaser-guided wading –but theDiscoverywill haveserious``````off-roadability. You setthe obstacle on the TerrainResponsedial– shiftingsands, rocks, mud uptothewheelcentres –and let theelectronics precisely metertorque toaxles andindividualwheels for insatiable progress.3THESTRUCTURETheoutgoingDiscovery’sAchilles’ heelis itsobesity, bellyfloppingit into the listofthe heaviestcars. Blamethe T5platform,with itsold-fashioned body-on-frame design.The new modelwill slash hundredsofkilos offthe kerbweight, byswitchingtothe aluminium monocoquechassisthat underpins thebig Range Rovers. Agility,performance andeconomywill be transformed, especiallywith the returnofthe four-potDisco: a150kW+2.0-litrediesel with twin turbosisrumouredtobe in theworks.There’ll besix-cylinder, V8andhybrid engines too.Expectedsalesin thefourthquarter.LANDROVERDISCOVERYMAKES A SWISS ARMYKNIFE LOOK USELESSTHEEVOQUEhas been agamechanger.It proveda smaller Range Rover was justasdesirableasa big one,gaveJLR theconfidence topushmoreavant-gardedesign,andraked in cash.In late 20 16,LandRover will again minethis successfulformula, with anew,fourthRange Rovermodel. Codenamed L560, the premium4x4is positionedbetweenEvoque and RangeRover Sport –precisely where its rivals,the BMWX3andAudi Q5, sit. Sourcessay the five-door SUV’s design takesthe Evoqueformula andmakes it moreaggressiveanddynamic. Under the skin,L560has an aluminium chassis, like the bigRange RoversandJaguarF-Pace(picturedabove). Thelightweight constructionwillbe novel in its class, and help maximiseeconomy and cut emissions. WhileJag’sF-Pacehas anon-roadbias, L560will havea higherride height and be primedtoconquer off-road, using itsadaptablefour-wheeldrive selectedbya Terrain Responsecontroller. Coreengineis the four-pot‘Ingenium’diesel, andits2.0-litre petrolcousin should beready for L560. Rangie’sX3could sell upto 80000 unitsa year.Priced competitively, wepredict anothersmash hit –justlike the Evoque.RANGE ROVER’S ‘X3’THERE’ S A GAP IN THERANGE ROVER LINE-UP.NOT FOR LONG, WITH ASLEEK,ALUMINIU M 4X4ON THE WAY...1211