2017 Land Rover Discovery: new pictures show SUV almost undisguised

Engines from the Ingenium family look likely to find their way into the car, either in current four-cylinder form with mild hybrid systems, or in V6 guise, if JLR further develops the new modular engine technology, as is widely expected.

Design

Land Rover previewed the next-generation Discovery at the New York motor show in April 2014 with the Discovery Vision, a concept that McGovern said was “very important in terms of being a benchmark for new-generation Discovery models: the versatility of the car, the seats, the reconfigurability, how you use it inside”.

The overall intention is to create a car that’s sportier and more modern-looking than today’s car but no less practical or versatile.

The production model, prototype versions of which are now regularly spied around JLR’s Midlands base, stays true to the concept on the exterior at least, with only detail changes at the front and rear ends. The concept’s radical, pared back interior is unlikely to carry over as extensively as the exterior, however.

Despite the radical exterior styling departure, McGovern said there were still “certain guidelines” in designing any Discovery. He said there would always be a stepped roof to accommodate the “stadium seating” for seven people, a visible pillar in the side to break up the mass and optimum proportions to maximise the volume inside the car.

He said the Discovery was being made more premium and would be brought “deliberately closer to Range Rover”. He added: “There will be a premium execution in Discovery, more Range Rover-like. But we need to not confuse and get the balance right.”

Despite the new design language, McGovern said the new Discovery “wouldn’t be polarising”. He said that, as much as he loved the current car, it was always seen as specialised in its design and ethos, so the new model would be “more universally appealing, without compromises”. He added that he had “no desire to upset traditionalists; the trick is to bring them with you”.

Technology

McGovern also spoke of the ever-closer ties between design and engineering and making sure the needs of both were met. He hinted that the Discovery would continue to have class-leading off-road ability, but in an altogether more stylish package.

“We won’t back off from that capability, but it has to be appropriate and relevant,” he said. “We need to be about more than that. It’s a killer combination: core engineering technology and truly desirable and bespoke design with our own twist. Design is playing a more fundamental role with engineering. Not design to engineering’s detriment, but a collaboration.”

In addition to its class-leading off-road ability, the Discovery could also become home to new technology in development at JLR. This includes a laser scanning system that can automatically adjust the suspension and transmission based on the road ahead, a ‘transparent bonnet’ that projects an image of what’s underneath the car onto the bonnet and the ability to control the car remotely to park it in tight spaces.

On the subject of a model smaller than the Discovery Sport, McGovern said: “We’re not going to make cars any bigger.” He added that cars needed to be lighter and more sustainable, with the use of lightweight composites and materials. These are “all things we’re developing”, he said.

“How small can you go with luxury? You usually think big, but we can go smaller. Can we go below the current Discovery Sport? We probably could. Across the range? Why not? All things are considered.”

Read: Land Rover Discovery - the generations

Comment - will the strategy work?

For the past few years, design director Gerry McGovern and other Land Rover executives have spoken of a ‘three-pillar’ model strategy. Within it, there will be three product lines: ‘Luxury’ Range Rovers, ‘Leisure’ Discovery models and ‘Dual Purpose’ Defenders.

The plan has always looked impressive during presentations, but the only real ‘family’ seen so far has been Range Rovers. It’s been a deliberate decision. “There’s been a lot of focus on Range Rover, but it's been needed to build revenue,” says McGovern. With revenues now up, attention has turned to expanding the Discovery range. The more upmarket Discovery Vision concept of 2014 set the blueprint for this plusher, sleeker range of Discovery models (something that continued with the Discovery Sport), and McGovern says a more universally appealing design for the next-gen Discovery will increase its chances of success.