RE: Land Rover Discovery Vision concept
Thursday 3rd April 2014
"Bold new concept will showcase Land Rover's design concept for a new family of Discovery vehicles!" boasts a teaser release accompanying a picture and animation ahead of the New York show at which more will be revealed. "Unrivalled capability and ultimate versatility taken to new levels using customer focused advanced technologies!" it continues.
We're guessing it probably won't look like thisWe're guessing there's probably more to it than that but it does seem a little strange to focus such a large portion of the 40-odd second video on this. What else do we get? Well there's a teaser outline showing a vehicle with big wheels (natch) and Discovery design trademarks like the chunky, reverse rake C-pillar and stepped roof. Of course, when PH thinks Land Rover Discovery we're pondering something more like the sub-grand My First Off-Roader that had Shed reaching for his camo pants and rigger boots not so long ago.
Land Rover Discovery Vision concept
Land Rover teases all-new Discovery; promises an entire family of cars to follow
Sounds exciting! So what are these fabulous customer focused advanced technologies? Folding rear seats it'd seem, going by the animation. Yup, that's the single most exciting piece of technology Land Rover wants to impress upon us right now about its all-new Discovery family.
We're guessing it probably won't look like this
We're guessing this new one probably won't have patchwork quilt bodywork, welded on skid plates and white steel wheels though. Not unless Land Rover's famously flamboyant design boss Gerry McGovern has deblinged and returned to traditional values of baling twine holding the tailgate closed and bits of straw sticking out of the door shuts. Certainly doesn't sound like he has.
"Discovery has been pivotal in helping to build the foundations of the Land Rover brand," he's quoted in the press release. "We have created the Vision Concept to share the essence of Land Rover's new age of Discovery and to debut a new, compelling, relevant design direction that connects on an emotional level with customers of today and tomorrow."
Expect further revelations in the build-up to the show in a couple of weeks time.
Discussion
Well does not really show much,
As much as I like the current discovery, I do think its moved too far from its roots of a simple rugged, but a bit more luxury than a defender type 4x4. And I guess this will be a further step from that.
While some of their innovations are V clever - like the terrains response, still that nagging though of build quality / reliability comes into my mind, added with the staggering cost of LR products at the moment.
Maybe time for a sub Discovery model ?
As much as I like the current discovery, I do think its moved too far from its roots of a simple rugged, but a bit more luxury than a defender type 4x4. And I guess this will be a further step from that.
While some of their innovations are V clever - like the terrains response, still that nagging though of build quality / reliability comes into my mind, added with the staggering cost of LR products at the moment.
Maybe time for a sub Discovery model ?
I have a feeling that there will be a new Defender spin-off that fills the rugged Discovery void. The Disco is capable but has moved too far into the premium sector to do a 180 and come back. I imagine a slightly better appointed model of the Defender to fill this void. Plus London types will love it because it's a Defendahh with air con and leather seats
The Disco has evolved from a site forman's wagon into a quite luxurious family transporter. It's no longer a car that you can jump into covered in mud and dirt and not remotely worry. It's become a car which expects clean hands, clean clothes and clean shoes.
I do hope they deliver a Defender replacement which carries on the utility nature of the current one but also accepts that in the modern world you have to design in some other creature comforts.
I do hope they deliver a Defender replacement which carries on the utility nature of the current one but also accepts that in the modern world you have to design in some other creature comforts.
Isn't the next Freelander going to be branded Discovery Sport?
I can see a 2 car line up and brand within a brand developing like Range Rover has become.
There is however a market below that, the work vehicle/trendy back to basics car in the Defender/Jeep Wrangler style.
Perhaps it s time for Land-Rover to give up in the utility market, unless they can come up with a brilliant vehicle that undercuts the opposition by being built cheaply in India.
Re what was said about the Disco being a foreman's wagon. True. It's all moved up one, with Range Rover, which back in the 1970s was aimed at (well off) surveyors, civil engineers etc, now chasing the Bentley money.
Maybe time to introduce the old Fleetline models that you could get the Range Rover in? A disco with the drivetrain and engine you'd expect but with wash down seats, steel wheels, basc stuff like a big Dacia Duster. Something you can use like a defender, but more comfortable. Having chunky working models in the range seeing them used by police, engineering firms etc would confirm the brands continuing off road roots.
I can see a 2 car line up and brand within a brand developing like Range Rover has become.
There is however a market below that, the work vehicle/trendy back to basics car in the Defender/Jeep Wrangler style.
Perhaps it s time for Land-Rover to give up in the utility market, unless they can come up with a brilliant vehicle that undercuts the opposition by being built cheaply in India.
Re what was said about the Disco being a foreman's wagon. True. It's all moved up one, with Range Rover, which back in the 1970s was aimed at (well off) surveyors, civil engineers etc, now chasing the Bentley money.
Maybe time to introduce the old Fleetline models that you could get the Range Rover in? A disco with the drivetrain and engine you'd expect but with wash down seats, steel wheels, basc stuff like a big Dacia Duster. Something you can use like a defender, but more comfortable. Having chunky working models in the range seeing them used by police, engineering firms etc would confirm the brands continuing off road roots.
Edited by wildcat45 on Thursday 3rd April 09:11
richs2891 said:
Maybe time for a sub Discovery model ?
Yes... traditionally it was called the defender, but land rover have already announced plans to kill it off and move "upmarket".In other words there's nothing "Land Rover" about where the company is heading...
Should be renamed "Mall Roamer"
skyrover said:
Should be renamed "Mall Roamer"
That made me chuckle 
I thought some of the issue with the Defender was that the MOD wasn't going to use it's light armoured variants moving forward?
Think the MOD bought more than the Chelsea set and if your own government won't buy it, it makes it a tough sell abroad.
I could be wrong mind.
skyrover said:
Throw more and more unreliable technology at it... yes that's the way to improve your car's land rover 
People don't seem to care about them being expensive, unreliable heaps of crap though, do they? Time and again a LR owner will regale us with tales of woe and they say they'd definitely buy another. It's a form of mental illness.
Howroyd said:
I have a feeling that there will be a new Defender spin-off that fills the rugged Discovery void. The Disco is capable but has moved too far into the premium sector to do a 180 and come back. I imagine a slightly better appointed model of the Defender to fill this void. Plus London types will love it because it's a Defendahh with air con and leather seats
Yep. Discovery is becoming a brand in its own right like Range Rover, and Defender will slot in under that.I'm looking forward to the all new Forward Control Camper
One of the reasons I picked a run-out model of the Discovery 2 is that the bodywork's not too delicate for proper off-road use and you get heavy duty bumpers etc. for it. - The newer Land Rovers / Range Rovers have vulnerable bodywork and lots of pieces of plastic and rubber trim under the front bumper that will get ripped-off the first time you drive it over anything more challenging than a gravel road. - HD bumpers are like rocking horse poo for L322 Range Rovers, the Range Rover Sport etc.
Of course, this is because 99% are used as "Mall Roamers"...as someone who likes proper 4x4s, I wish the magpies would move on to something else so that LR (and other manufacturers) stop whoring themselves out. - Surely there's a nice S-Line Audi A-something with a 1.0 TDI and twelve exhausts that the orange tan brigade could drive? Maybe Audi should build a sunbed into the new A3 Cabrio and get Joey Essex to market it?
Of course, this is because 99% are used as "Mall Roamers"...as someone who likes proper 4x4s, I wish the magpies would move on to something else so that LR (and other manufacturers) stop whoring themselves out. - Surely there's a nice S-Line Audi A-something with a 1.0 TDI and twelve exhausts that the orange tan brigade could drive? Maybe Audi should build a sunbed into the new A3 Cabrio and get Joey Essex to market it?
tter than the disco 3-4, I've had my d2 for 11 years as I cant stomach the current model. I'd rather have a run out Defender than a current disco...100SRV said:
These days it seems that image is everything and dependability secondary.
Sad that the product which was designed as a mechanical donkey has been neglected in favour of the upmarket vehicles it spawned.
Yep. No company has ever become successful by selling their customers what they want to buy.Sad that the product which was designed as a mechanical donkey has been neglected in favour of the upmarket vehicles it spawned.
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