Land Rover Discovery: Off-roader for the whole family

In the mid-1980s, the developers at Land Rover looked to Japan, and what they saw there gave them food for thought. The competition from the Far East had equipped their off-road vehicles with significant comfort elements, and the classic Land Rover (not yet on the road as the Defender at the time) could not keep up. In 1986, the brand therefore decided to launch a new model on the market that would close the gap between the rustic classic and the luxurious Range Rover. The result was presented at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in 1989: the Discovery.

The brand's third model combined the robust characteristics of the Land Rover with the comfort of the Range Rover. Right from the start, the SUV brought a new element to the off-road specialist segment. With up to seven seats and a flexible interior, the Discovery was also aimed at families looking for a versatile model with all-terrain characteristics. The fact that the first version only had two doors - not very family-friendly - and therefore access for passengers in the rear was not particularly practical, was soon recognized and changed accordingly just one year later.

The developers brought Sir Terence Orby Conran on board for the interior. The designer, who among other things founded the international Habitat chain, created the so-called theater seating, in which the passengers in rows two and three sit slightly higher and therefore have a better view than in the models of the competition. In the course of time, the Discovery adopted features of the new SUV models without, however, giving up its off-road characteristics. The original Discovery proved this between 1990 and 1997 in the various editions of the Camel Trophy, with which the cigarette brand circumvented the tobacco advertising ban introduced at the time and was thus able to indirectly advertise its product.

Compared to the current Discovery, the first model looks almost dainty. After 35 years of production, the off-roader has improved in all areas and also brought technical innovations to the segment. Among other things, the Terrain Response System introduced in 2004 made off-road driving easier. The different driving conditions could be set using a rotary knob and, together with the electronic hill descent control, even inexperienced off-roaders were able to cope well off-road.

To date, more than 1.6 million "Discos" have been built, and to celebrate its 35th birthday, Land Rover is treating friends of the model to a special edition powered by a new mild hybrid straight-six diesel engine with a respectable 350 hp (257 kW). Diesel? Yes, of course, because "90 percent of customers choose the diesel," explains brand spokeswoman Andrea Leitner-Garnell.

Understandable, because the three-liter diesel develops its power with aplomb and always remains acoustically in the background. The special "35th Anniversary Edition" model costs 100,400 euros and is available to customers after a delivery period of four months. The fully equipped anniversary Discovery comes with a head-up display, 22-inch wheels, four-zone automatic air conditioning, Windsor leather and a center console with integrated cooling compartment. Like all other versions, the anniversary model can also handle trailer loads of up to 3,500 kilograms, with the trailer assistant making maneuvering easier.

The new drive delivers 50 hp more than the previously offered engine. At the same time, the torque has increased by 50 Newton meters to the current 700 Newton meters, and acceleration from zero to 100 km/h has improved by six tenths of a second to 6.3 seconds. Thanks to the mild hybrid technology, the 2.3-tonner consumes 8.6 liters per 100 kilometers. The new drive is not only used in the anniversary model, but also powers the other variants in the series. The price list for the Discovery starts at 77,800 euros.

While Land Rover's luxury division will be launching an electric Range Rover next year, Land Rover has not yet set a date for an electric future. Friends of electric mobility can at most choose the Discovery Sport with pug-in hybrid drive.(aum)

Data Land Rover Discovery 35th Anniversary Edition

Length x width x height (m):4.95 x 2.20 x 1.88
Wheelbase (m): 2.92
Drive: in-line six-cylinder diesel, 2997 cc, mild hybrid, 8-speed automatic transmission
Total output: 257 kW / 350 hp
Max. Torque: 700 Nm
Top speed: 209 km/h
Acceleration 0 to 100 km/h: 6.3 sec.
WLTP average fuel consumption: 8.6 liters
CO2 emissions: 225 g/km (WLTP)
Unladen weight: 2367 kilograms
Price: 100,400 euros