The Land Rover Discovery 3 is an all-new, premium SUV replacing the segment-defining Discovery. Named LR3 in the North American market, it will make its debut at the New York International Auto Show on April 7 and on sale later this year.

Design

"The design of the Discovery 3 is derived from its capability. Everything you see has been done for a reason," said Land Rover design director Geoff Upex. "The priority was to give the passengers and driver a superb cabin environment, with more headroom and greater comfort. It has big, deep glazing, because that provides greater airiness and a better view."

It is also unambiguously a Land Rover. "An absolute priority was that nobody could mistake this vehicle for anything else," said Upex. "It had to look thoroughly modern, bold and distinctive."

Unique Land Rover design cues include its bold, geometric vertical and horizontal elements; stepped roof (to boost headroom); asymmetric rear tailgate (to reduce load height when the lower part of the tailgate is closed, and reduce reach-in distance when opened); the use of an air intake on only one side of the body (it's all that was needed); and its large glazed areas.

Specification

The Discovery 3 introduces Land Rover's Terrain Response system, previewed on the recent Range Stormer concept. This optimises driveability and comfort, as well as maximising traction. The driver chooses one of five terrain settings via a rotary switch on the centre console: a general driving programme, plus one for slippery conditions (known as 'grass/gravel/ snow') and three special off-road modes (mud/ruts, sand, rock crawl). Terrain Response then automatically selects the most appropriate settings for the vehicle's advanced electronic controls and traction aids - including ride height, engine torque response, hill descent control, electronic traction control and transmission settings.

Another innovation is the Integrated Body-frame structure, which allows the Discovery 3 to deliver the comfort, refinement and on-road attributes of a monocoque, while continuing to set new standards in off-road performance. The Discovery 3 also features adaptive headlights that swivel with the direction of travel to illuminate the road ahead.

The top-of-the-range engine is a specially developed 4.4-litre version of Jaguar's V8 petrol engine. Changes for Land Rover use include increased capacity, more low-end torque, enhanced dust- and water-proofing, and revised breathing to enable the car to wade rivers. In Land Rover guise, the engine must also be able to run at acute angles for extreme off-road use. The top-selling engine in Europe is likely to be Land Rover's new 2.7-litre V6 turbodiesel (not available in North America), a common rail unit that uses variable geometry turbocharging. The third engine in the line-up is a petrol 4.0-litre V6.

On-road driving and refinement are enhanced by fully independent suspension all round, using air springs on most models. This is height adjustable, to assist with entry and exit, and to boost ground clearance to help off-road performance.

The driver enjoys Land Rover's traditional 'command' seating position, while all the rear passengers get stadium seating - progressively higher than the seats in front, offering a clearer view. The optional third row of seats are big enough to accommodate 95th percentile adults.