remarkable discovery

We all remember Lance bouncing back to win more than six titles on the Tour, but do you remember Les tricolores overcoming a 14 point deficit in the ‘99 World Cup semi-final, beating the mighty All Blacks 43-31?
No, what about our very own Gary Player, winning the World Matchplay tournament at Wentworth in 1965, after trailing by seven holes?
Still no, well one comeback we all should be young enough to remember is that of Land Rover’s Discovery from vehicular villain to versatile victor of 100 international awards it has accumulated since the Discovery3 was launched. Although the issues that characterised the Discovery2 still leave a bitter German aftertaste for some, the new fourth generation builds on the more reliable Disco3 chassis. Under its Ford foster parents, the 3 made huge strides in improving their Customer Service Index ratings (think JD Power) and restoring trust in their brand and product reliability.
Unlike the Range Rover Sport, Land Rover SA have opted for an all new engine line-up for the Discovery4 including a new 3.0 TDV6 (available in S, SE and HSE trim), as well as a petrol 5.0 V8 HSE. The new direct injection V8 delivers 25% more power and 19% more torque than the previous 4.4-litre powerplant, accelerating the big 4 from 0-100kph in 7.6secs.
The pick of the range however is the twin turbo oil burner, the new 3.0 TDV6. Compared to the previous 2.7-litre diesel, the new six potter offers a 9 % improvement in fuel economy (EU combined cycle) and 10% less CO2 emissions, while increasing power by 29%. Torque increases by 36% to 600Nm, offering a claimed 0-100 kph time of 9.6 secs, which is a 24% improvement over the previous 2.7-litre.
Onroad body roll and dive under braking has been reduced thanks to stiffer and larger anti-roll bars, while the centre of gravity has also been lowered by 42mm at the front and 62mm at the rear for better mid corner poise and straight-line stability.
Off the beaten track is still where the Discovery excels though, boasting a wading depth of 700mm (in offroad mode) and the same technical enhancements as the new Range Rover Sport. These include a 'sand launch control' function which sets speed-dependent wheel-slip targets for the traction control system to permit only very limited wheel-slip on pull away. There is also a new Gradient Release Control function on the Hill Descent Control (HDC) system that reduces the lurch one feels when braking is released while descending very steep inclines, offering better control at extreme angles.
The rock crawl program also now applies a low level brake pressure when the vehicle is in first or reverse gear at speeds below 5kph, reducing the vehicle's roll tendency and the intervention of the traction control system, for a more composed drive over rocky terrain.
The Discovery4 also adopts the Sport’s exterior design with simpler surfaces at the front, including a more aerodynamic front bumper and LED lighting both front and rear. On the down side, the position of the full size spare wheel has not been addressed and remains under the rear load bay. Land Rover’s designers have also done away with the protection of the black plastic side mouldings, due to customer feedback in the US. These strips offered protection from scratches - when traversing thick bush, forests and thornveld - and aren’t even available optionally.
The hard wearing and durable plastics on the interior have also made way for more luxurious materials, to meet the cosmetic demands of the US market. While new executive toys like a keyless entry system and the Push Button start feature on the Discovery’s standard specification list, items of greater use include: a new 360-degree surround camera system (which relays views from five digital cameras to the touch-screen on the revised dashboard for easier navigation and manoeuvrability in tight confines and Trailer Stability Assist. This towing aid detects and rectifies trailer oscillations and swing by reducing engine torque and making braking interventions to bring the towed vehicle back under control.
Pricing of the new Discovery4 will be released at the vehicle's local launch toward the end of Oct 2009
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