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Mild hybrid technology for the new Land Rover Discovery Sport

Land Rover has updated the Discovery Sport compact premium SUV. According to the company, it “has been transformed to make it more efficient, technologically-advanced and practical, keeping its occupants safe and comfortable in any conditions”.

Rawdon Glover, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover UK, said: “Discovery Sport has been a stunning sales success for Land Rover, leading the way for the past three years and selling almost one hundred thousand models in the UK to date. The new model combines everything the Discovery family of vehicles embodies with a greater focus on modern life – whether through the new electrified 48-volt MHEV or PHEV powertrains, the latest technologies that keep you connected at all times, or the durable materials used throughout the cabin. The result is a compact seven-seat SUV that caters for every family, in every eventuality.”

There is a completely new infotainment interface and the latest connectivity, plus a more flexible seating arrangement with up to 24 combinations. Under the skin, new electrified engines include a 48-volt mild hybrid from launch to help reduce emissions and fuel consumption.

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Design Officer, said: “Building on the success of the original Discovery Sport, this beautifully proportioned vehicle has been refined, enhancing its characterful exterior which compliments the engaging nature of the interior space.”

Trademark Discovery design cues, including the clamshell bonnet, rising beltline and tapered roof remain, but “the proportions have been optimised to project a more striking visual with new signature LED headlamps at the front and rear, alongside an updated front grille and bumpers”.

The new Discovery Sport is available in Discovery Sport, S, SE and HSE trim, in addition to the R-Dynamic variants that mark themselves out with unique bumpers, Shadow Atlas script on the bonnet and tailgate, and use of body colour on the side sills and wheel arches. Inside, branded treadplates further differentiate it from the core model.

There’s a 20 per cent increase in fuel tank capacity (up to 67-litres).

Built on Land Rover’s Premium Transverse Architecture (PTA), the Discovery Sport has a new body that is 13 per cent stiffer than its predecessor. Rigidly-mounted subframes reduce noise and vibration intrusion into the cabin.

Designed with electrification in mind, PTA allows for the introduction of new 48-volt mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) powertrains on Discovery Sport. First launched on the new Range Rover Evoque, the system uses an engine-mounted belt-integrated starter generator to harvest energy normally lost during deceleration and stores it in an under-floor battery and is fitted as standard on vehicles with automatic transmissions.

At speeds below 17km/h (11mph), the engine will shut off when the driver applies the brakes, before redeploying the stored energy to assist the engine under acceleration to reduce fuel consumption.

Available across the range of four-cylinder Ingenium petrol and diesel engines, the mild hybrid delivers CO2 emissions from as low as 144g/km CO2 (NEDC equivalent) and fuel economy up to  40.9mpg (6.9l/100km) (based on WLTP test procedure). An even more efficient plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variant will also join the range later in 2019.

The new Discovery Sport is one of the first in the Land Rover range to offer a Real Driving Emissions stage 2 (RDE2) certified engine, ahead of their mandatory introduction in 2020. By tracking emissions using a real-world on-road test in addition to traditional laboratory measurements, customers can be certain the latest Ingenium diesel engines available on the compact SUV are cleaner and more efficient than ever.

The most efficient Discovery Sport model will be the Front-Wheel Drive 150HP diesel with manual transmission, offering emissions from as low as 140g/km of CO2 and fuel economy from 47.8mpg (5.9l/100km). To maximise efficiency, All-Wheel Drive (AWD) variants benefit from Driveline Disconnect – a Power Transfer Unit at the front axle that disconnects drive to the rear wheels under steady state cruising, reducing frictional losses and re-engaging AWD in less than 500 milliseconds.

The latest Discovery Sport is available with a ‘smart rear view mirror’ that transforms into a video screen at the flick of a switch to display what is behind the vehicle. Offering a wider (50-degree) field of vision and superior visibility in low light conditions from a camera mounted above the rear window, the mirror ensures rear visibility is not compromised by second and third row passengers or bulky items in the boot.

Ground View technology has been introduced to help drivers navigate high city centre kerbs or tackle rough terrain by projecting camera imagery that offers a virtual 180-degree view beneath the vehicle onto the touchscreen. Effectively making the bonnet invisible, this is the realisation of Land Rover’s Transparent Bonnet technology, first previewed in 2014.

Wireless charging for compatible mobile devices is offered for the first time within the lower centre console, while a 4G WiFi hotspot, and available USB and 12-volt connectivity points on every row, ensure passengers remain charged and connected. Second and third row occupants can also benefit from individual ventilation controls.

For regular drivers of the new Discovery Sport, Smart Settings uses artificial intelligence algorithms to learn driver preferences, adjusting massage and seat positions, music and climate settings and steering column positioning to suit each driver.

There is a reversing camera as standard on all models, alongside a suite of available advanced driver assistance systems. This includes optional Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist, which centres the vehicle in the lane based on road markings as well as maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Standard safety features include Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking and Driver Condition Monitor.

 

Engine /
Trim
2.0L D150 FWD
Manual
2.0L D150 AWD
Auto
2.0L D180 AWD
Auto
2.0L D240 AWD
Auto
2.0L P200 AWD
Auto
2.0L P250 AWD
Auto
Standard £31,575 £36,425 £36,775
S £34,425 £39,575 £40,325 £42,475 £39,925 £41,375
SE £36,925 £42,425 £43,175 £45,325 £42,475 £43,925
HSE £46,025 £48,175 £47,075

 

R-Dynamic
R-Dynamic S £41,075 £41,825 £43,975 £41,425 £42,875
R-Dynamic SE £43,925 £44,675 £46,825 £43,975 £45,425
R-Dynamic HSE £47,525 £49,675 £48,575

 

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