The Discovery 3 is the first vehicle developed wholly by the new management team that took over Land Rover in July 2000 following its purchase by Ford Motor Company, and this model range is of huge significance to the brand.

Engines

Three engine derivatives were showcased in Scotland — a 4.4-litre petrol driven V8, a 4.0-litre petrol V6 and what is likely to be the volume seller, the 2.7-litre diesel V6.

The 4.4-litre unit is derived form the Jaguar V8 mill and is the most powerful engine ever fitted to a production Land Rover. It has a maximum power output of 220kW developed at 5500rpm while a maximum torque output of 425Nm is available form 4000rpm.

The 4.0-litre unit is just as capable with the added benefit of better fuel consumption. It produces 156kW and has a substantial torque figure of 360Nm. The diesel unit is the most likely volume seller; it produces a power output of 140kW, but has an outstanding torque figure of 440Nm at just 1900rpm.

Off-road

Discovery has a range of new technology; most significant is the introduction of a new system called Terrain Response. As a relatively inexperienced off-roader I approached many of the daunting obstacles with more than a hint of trepidation, however the intelligent Terrain Response system kept me in safe hands.

There are five terrain settings; general driving, slippery conditions (grass/gravel/snow), mud and ruts, sand, and rock crawl. Terrain Response then automatically selects the appropriate settings for the Disco's advanced electronic controls and traction aids. Vehicle functions controlled by Terrain Response include ride height, engine torque response, Hill Decent Control, Electronic Traction Control, transmission and differential settings.

No matter what the instructors asked of us, and much of it was pretty daunting, the Discovery made easy work of it. The easy-to-use system is like having an instructor in the vehicle with you. There is also an LCD touch screen that provides the driver with plenty of information about what the vehicle is doing, where and which wheels have traction, as well as notifying driver and occupants when the diffs are locked and so forth.

From beach sand to driving up waterfalls and down radical drop-offs, not to mention the rivers we waded through, the Discovery made short work of it all, while I remained wide-eyed for much of the two-day launch.

On road

On road the Discovery is equally impressive with a great deal of focus being placed on comfort and versatility. There is a choice of five or seven seats, with the third row in the seven-seater guise of full adult dimensions. Often the third row is only suitable for children, but in the Discovery two adults would be comfortable in the back row with room to spare.

The seats also fold away in a number of ways, providing a completely flat load area with all seats tucked away.

"Our priorities were cabin space, comfort, the Command driving position and elevated stadium seating in the rear," said design director Geoff Upex.

"The exterior design is a reflection of those interior priorities. It is very geometric, very minimalist, and very modern. Everything is there for a reason. It is pure product design, rather than fancy automotive styling. The best vehicles inevitably are. It is also distinctively Land Rover. You won’t confuse this vehicle with anything else."

Pricing

South Africa can expect the Discovery to hit local dealerships in the first quarter of 2005. Pricing has not yet been finalised, however it is likely to begin at around R440 000 for the entry-level units ranging up to around R570 000 for the fully kitted V8 model.

But if that seems like a long wait for you then fear not as Land Rover will have the Discovery 3 on show at the upcoming Auto Africa exhibition, with its Range Rover like front end and unique asymmetrical rear end the ultra modern Discovery certainly won't disappoint.