Jaguar and Land Rover are both brands in Ford’s Premium Automotive Group.
Mated to a six-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission, the Jaguar V8 propels the 2700kg wagon to 96km/h in around 8/5 seconds. Top speed of the new Discovery (Disco in Land Rover aficionado-speak) is around 200km/h.
Land Rover says responsive on-road performance was a top priority for the Discovery 3.
The 4.4-litre Jaguar AJV8 was chosen to the do the job.
Modified for the Land Rover application, the DOHC engine develops 295bhp at 5500rpm. Changes made to the motor to make it more suitable for Land Rover use include increased displacement (up from 4.2 litres), more low-end torque, enhanced dust and waterproofing, and revised breathing to enable the vehicle to wade in up to 24 inches of water.
The water and oil pumps were re-engineered as has the oil sump to cope with wide ambient temperature ranges, operating environments and angles of operation.
The six-speed transmission adapts its gearshift patterns to individual drivers’ driving styles and to the road conditions.
A Command Shift function allows the driver full control over gearchanges.
ZF makes the automatic transmission, and the vehicle also has a two-speed electronically-shifted transfer case and centre differential lock.
The Disco 3 has permanent four-wheel drive and fully independent, height-adjustable air suspension with an optional locking rear differential.
Power is split 50/50 between the front and rear axles.
The truck’s construction is unitary rather than body-on-chassis. Land Rover calls it Integrated Body-frame architecture.
Land Rover says this new approach to body structure achieves the benefits of a stiff monocoque combined with the strength and off-road articulation made possible by a traditional separate chassis frame.
It says the Integrated Body-frame structure allows the Discovery to deliver all the comfort, refinement and on-road attributes of a monocoque, while continuing to deliver optimum off-road performance.
The combination of a tough frame mated to a rigid body structure provides occupants with a secure zone in a collision.
It also acts as a stable foundation for a suite of advanced dynamic control systems which give the vehicle a sure-footed confidence.
The Discovery 3’s adaptive headlights swivel with the direction of travel to illuminate the road ahead.
Power assisted rack and pinion steering delivers a smaller turning radius than in previous Discoverys which would be clumsy to manoeuvre in tight spaces like carpark buildings.
Discoverys have a steel safety cage and up to eight airbags.
