It's not just a Land Rover, it's the Discovery 4, an upgraded off-roader to drive into 2010.

Land Rover makes much of the new engine for this vehicle, a V6, three-litre twin turbo diesel engine, which it claims has improved fuel economy by 9 percent. It also has a parallel, sequential turbocharger system that Land Rover says is the first of its type to be fitted to a V-engine anywhere in the world.

At the same time, its maximum power of 180kW is a 29 percent gain when compared with the Discoveries current 2.7-litre engine. Torque is at 600Nm and is "believed to be the highest torque output of any 6-cylinder, production diesel, passenger vehicle engine in the world," Land Rover says.

Power delivery

The engine delivers across the entire rev range, and can make 500Nm torque available in only 500 milliseconds from idle, virtually eliminating turbo lag and providing a more responsive experience that makes it an ideal vehicle for cruising.

Handling has been improved with new suspension components, revised steering, larger brakes, improved traction control, and upgrades to its terrain response system so that the vehicle behaves as it should in on-road or off-road driving conditions. This includes settings for general driving, grass or gravel or snow, sand, mud and ruts and rock crawling.

The exterior design has smoothed, removing complex curves or shapes from the design. The redesigned front bumper is not just cosmetic but also helps improve steering by reducing lift at the front of the vehicle by as much as 50 percent at higher speeds.

Interior design

The cabin has been completely redesigned, with a new fascia and centre console. The new design includes a 5-inch driver information screen among the instrument cluster. All models have a new, heated steering wheel with revised switch layout for trip data, audio controls and cruise control.

The cushion profile of the seat in the first and second rows has been changed to improve support and comfort and front seats have height-adjustable head restraints.

Pricing:

Five-litre LRV8 HSE - R720 000

Pricing includes a Land Rover care plan valid for five years or 100 000km

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