Discovery Vision Concept revealed by Land Rover

Next Disco concept shown pre-New York. With a spaceship, just for good measure

How on earth could Land Rover match the drama of last year's New York show? The new Range Rover Sport, James Bond, street closures... it made for quite the spectacle. And in 2014? New Discovery Vision, USS Intrepid and a spaceship. Brilliant.

What was that about the reserved British?

Well Land Rover couldn't just do a conventional reveal of its latest car after 2013, could it? So the Discovery Vision Concept was seen completely alongside a little tie-up with Virgin Galactic, Branson's space airline. You can't fault the effort, that's for sure.

So behind the concept, the scale model of SpaceShip2 and an old US aircraft carrier on the Hudson, what's the point? The official line is that it's bringing together 'two world leaders in adventure, innovation and exploration'. The Virgin Galactic team will use Land Rover products and the collaboration will also hope to inspire young people 'across the globe to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology'. No doubt more will follow from the alliance in the near future. But for nailing the LR brand message of exploration and adventure, this is surely ideal.

With the corporate side dealt with, what about the car? It may have 'Vision Concept' tagged on the end, but the first of the new Discovery models will surely look much like this when it goes on sale next year. There are clear Evoque and Range Rover influences in the details, incorporated into a familiar Discovery silhouette. A more athletic one, for sure, but recognisably still a Disco. Don't count on the suicide doors making production though.

And here's the car without the aircraft carrier

If the interior makes production largely unchanged too, Discovery buyers are in for a treat. A large touchscreen dominates the centre console, replacing the rather fiddly infotainment system used in JLR products recently. As well as the standard controls, it manages the functions of the seven seats. Fold, slide and move them to your heart's content. Seven-seat family car, four-seater limo, two-seater van; all controlled via the touchscreen. There's a showroom winner, for sure.

But the Discovery Vision hasn't quite lost sight of its roots yet. The light leather may look like standard glitzy motor show fare, but it's washable as well as water- and oil-repellent. And if the whole thing looks a little too modern right now, Land Rover proudly point out the bespoke accessories lined in Harris Tweed help to create a warm, uniquely British feeling of quality and craftsmanship.

The Discovery Vision concept is crammed with tech, way above and beyond anything Land Rover has offered before. Let's see what the kerbweight of the next Disco is like... Anyway, the claim is that the equipment 'not only honours Land Rover's ethos of all-terrain capability but takes it to a whole new dimension'. So then, notepads at the ready, here's a rundown of everything on offer.

Disco gets fit in its 20s

The Transparent Bonnet we know about, but there's so much else in addition to assist off-road. Remote Control Drive allows the car to be manoeuvred at low speeds without the driver inside, good for spotting in extreme off-roading apparently. There's a middle ground between remote and full driving too, All-Terrain Progress Control allows semi-autonomous off-road driving at a steady speed but there are no further details on that yet.

Should you wish to actually off-road independently, Laser Terrain Scanning uses infrared lasers to scan the ground and render a contour map in the instruments. This can work in conjunction with the All-Terrain Coach to create the best path and assist the driver in navigating it. Rumours of it shouting in an authoritarian PT voice are unconfirmed ...

Still with it? Then don't forget the latest Wade Aid system that measures the depth of water before entry. Which could come in handy, as well as being a brilliantly named piece of equipment. Laser Referencing projects markings onto the ground so there will be no excuse for poor parking...

And if the outside looked modern...

Then there's inside (!). According to Land Rover, the next-gen Human-Machine Interface (HMI) 'creates a rich and truly immersive multimedia experience for all occupants'. Feeling lonely in the rearmost seats? Video call your fellow passengers through the seat screens. Smart Glass and Gesture Control also feature inside, with demos of those sure to follow prior to the debut of the production car.

The Vision concept indicates just how far the Discovery has come in 25 years, evolving from a fairly rudimentary device into this tech laden leisure SUV. Expect further concepts and previews to feature at shows leading up to 2015, with new details on powertrains and prices. At least the technology is dealt with now!