All-new Discovery born to lead large SUV segment

From left: Sun Honglei, a popular actor and also the first all-new Discovery SUV buyer; Frank Wittemann, president of Integrated Marketing, Sales and Services, Jaguar Land Rover China and Chery Jaguar Land Rover; Pan Qing, member of the Board of Management at Jaguar Land Rover and executive director of Jaguar Land Rover China; and Hu Jun, deputy president of IMSS attend the launch ceremony for the new model in Wuhan, Hubei province, on March 2. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Land Rover's all-new Discovery is ready to establish the segment's benchmark and compete in the world's largest sport utility vehicle market, delivering the ultimate in off-road capabilities without compromising luxurious riding comfort.

About 2,000 Land Rover owners, partners, guests and journalists witnessed a dramatic show on Thursday, during which three all-new Discovery vehicles demonstrated the off-road capabilities of the seven-seat body by climbing rocks and wading through a pool of water on stage.

The Han Show Theater in Wuhan city, capital of Hubei province, which was designed by renowned British architect and stage designer Mark Fisher, hosted the launch ceremony for its fusion of Chinese traditional and modern technology, lending a poetic backdrop for the Land Rover and helping demonstrate Discovery's innovative and inclusive ideas.

The British automobile brand's new flagship model hit the Chinese market at recommended retail prices ranging from 798,000 to 1.1 million yuan ($116,000－$161,000) for the five variants.

"Discovery stands for the exploration of the future, and Above and Beyond means we will accept all the challenges and will conquer them," Pan Qing, member of the Board of Management at Jaguar Land Rover and executive director of Jaguar Land Rover China, told the audience.

Pan continued: "With its unrivaled off-road capabilities, modern British exterior design, luxurious and roomy interior and intelligent connectivity, the all-new Discovery will empower the owners to challenge the unknown future."

Frank Wittemann, president of Integrated Marketing, Sales and Services, Jaguar Land Rover China and Chery Jaguar Land Rover, said: "The all-new Discovery will soon arrive in China, and appeals to many Land Rover customers both old and new with its heritage and innovation."

The large-size all-new Discovery is entering the hottest-selling segments on the Chinese following strong advance orders for Land Rover's latest model.

Hu Jun, deputy president of IMSS, said: "It demonstrates the unparalleled importance of the Chinese market to Land Rover, and once again its strength as the leader of the luxury SUV market."

The company believes the all-new Discovery, with improved all-terrain capabilities, new design and intelligent connectivity, will be a great companion for Chinese customers discovering the future and creating wonderful memories.

The all-new model retains classic Discovery family elements and adds optimized proportions and more sophisticated surfaces.

Land Rover has applied characteristic Discovery cues such as the stepped roofline and the asymmetrical license plate recess. The SUV comes with a smooth and eased back nose, and the cabin pillar is pushed rearward and polished soft. Its premium interior combines leading design with durable, high-quality materials, 21 storage areas and up to nine USB ports and four 12V charging points.

The top configured variants come only as a seven-seater with a power-folding system for the second and third rows.

Land Rover has applied its world-leading intelligent seat fold technology enabling users to fold selected seats remotely through an app in the smartphone to extend the loading capacity of 2,406 cubic liters.

The Activity Key is available for the first time as an optional feature that makes living life to the fullest more convenient. The Activity Key mimics a wrist band and may lock or unlock the vehicle if the user prefers not to carry a key fob.

Specifications

Dimensions: 4.97 meters long, 2 meters wide, 1.91 meters high; 2.92-meter wheelbase, 258-liter trunk expandable to 2,406 liters

Engine: 3-liter LR-V6 Supercharged petrol, outputting 250 kW and 450 Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic, shift gear in 200 milliseconds

Speed: accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 7.1 sec

Economy: 10.7 liters per 100 km

Capability: 283 mm ground clearance, 900 mm wading depth, approach angle of up to 34 degrees, a breakover angle of 27.5 degrees and departure angle of 30 degrees (Off-road mode)