Land Rover: New Discovery Sport

 So on Thursday past I was given the awesome opportunity to fly to George for a 2 day Launch of the newest addition to the Land Rover family, and the most versatile compact SUV yet - The all-new Discovery Sport. 

So the Discovery Team started by putting all the Media Personal on an adventure to see if they had the Adventure Gene! We were taken to a mountain top and got to choose our favourite Discovery Sport SUV to drive down the mountain & take on a adventurous road trip.

The new Discovery Sport features cutting-edge technology to maximise both 

safety and convenience. New developments include everything from an advanced new infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen to a pedestrian airbag that minimises the consequences of a collision. Other available driver-assistance technologies include:

• Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS)

• Park Assist

• Automatic High-Beam Assist

• Lane Departure Warning

• Trailer Stability Assist

• Tow Assist & Tow Hitch Assist

• HD Surround Camera System

• Extended satellite navigation system

• Automatic headlamps

• Rain-sensing wipers

• Parking sensors

Designed for life

Discovery Sport is clearly identifiable as a Land Rover but introduces a progressive new design approach specifically tailored to create clear differentiation between the other families within the Land Rover brand architecture: Luxury (Range Rover), Leisure (Discovery) and Dual-Purpose (Defender).

This beautifully proportioned vehicle brings a new sense of dynamism to the Discovery family and projects an image of confidence with its wheel-at-each-corner stance.The fast bonnet line steps down into a rising belt line, creating a distinctively compact profile that belies significant interior space with 5+2 seating. This streamlined design is complemented by class-leading usability: all-round visibility is excellent, whilst the interior and load space are easily accessible and fully optimised.

Discovery Sport’s versatile interior has been designed to be premium, not precious. The centre console forms a strong vertical graphic in the middle of the instrument panel, ensuring key controls are deliberately placed to provide easy access from the Sport’s Command Driving Position. Simple, clean surfaces and high-quality materials feature throughout.

 So on this 2 day launch event we got to do so many awesome adventure things, to not only push the Discovery Sport SUV Land Rover but also you as an individual. The purpose was to see if you had the adventure gene, so we were put to our paces by doing various adventure activities. One of things I got to do was kayaking, I had never done it before but it was such an awesome experience. I wasn’t really great at it, but the challenge was so exhilarating!     

So that very evening we went to watch a presentation of the Discovery Sport at the Showroom in Prince Albert. We had so much fun!

Then next morning myself and few others decided to wake up at 6:30am drive up the mountain to watch the sun come up...It was really an amazing experience as I've never done anything like that before! The view was absolutely breathtaking!

I then also got the opportunity to do a quarter mile race in the Discovery Sport, the trick of the challenge was to drive as fast as you can, and then at a certain point to step on the brakes as hard as you could. This was also to show how stable the SUV is. I felt in complete control and when I drove the Discovery Sport 3 things came to mind Design, Capability and absolute Versatility!

Connected and comfortable handling on the road

Many of the innovations that make Discovery Sport unbeatable off-road are equally key to its responsive handling and composure on-road.

Key highlights include:

• All-new multi-link rear axle

• Variable-ratio, electric power-assisted steering (EPAS)

• Torque Vectoring by Braking (TVB)

• Nine-speed automatic gearbox with adaptive shift strategy
• 325mm front disc brakes with new-generation calipers and pads

THE WORLD’S MOST VERSATILE PREMIUM COMPACT SUV

• 5+2 seating versatility in a more compact footprint than traditional five-seat SUVs
• All-new multi-link axle for peerless on-road agility and off-road ability, plus high levels of refinement and interior space
• Offers highly efficient nine-speed automatic transmission
•  Unrivalled all-terrain performance courtesy of optimised approach, departure and breakover angles, including Terrain Response®
•  Connected on-road handling with optimised electric power-assisted steering and Torque Vectoring by Braking
• All-new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with intuitive controls 

Outstanding capability has been at the core of every Land Rover since 1948; Discovery Sport maintains that heritage. It has been engineered to provide best-in-class off-road capability, on-road dynamics, interior packaging, safety innovations and use of intelligent lightweight materials. The result is the most versatile premium compact SUV currently on sale. Engineering innovations include: a lightweight bodyshell with a mix of steel and aluminium; all-new multi-link rear axle; and advanced nine-speed automatic transmission. 
“This is one of the most pivotal new models in our history, as it expands the Discovery family,” said Richard Gouverneur, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa. “It offers the practicality of 5+2 seating and superb capabilities, in a compact premium SUV package.”
If you want to see more of the specifications on the Land Rover Discovery Sport click below:

http://www.landrover.co.za/