Land Rover unveils all-new Discovery
LAND ROVER has unveiled its latest Discovery SUV in a major publicity stunt on the eve of the Paris Motor Show.
In a nod to tradition, the company based the event at Packington Hall in Solihull, close to the Land Rover plant and the country estate used to test the vehicle back in the 1940s and 50s.
The new vehicle was unveiled against a backdrop of a massive replica of Tower Bridge made out of Lego; the 13-metre high model breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest Lego structure ever built.
Also at last night’s event were long-term Land Rover Discovery owners Bear Grylls, Sir Ben Ainslie and Zara Phillips.
The new seven seater is the fifth variant of the Discovery family and the first all-new model since 2010.
The seven seat versatility has made the vehicle a family favourite since it was first launched 27 years ago.
As expected, the design is similar to that of the Halewood-produced Discovery Sport, which has proved an instant success since it was launched last year.
Gerry McGovern, Land Rover’s Chief Design Officer, said: “New Discovery redefines the large SUV. Land Rover’s design and engineering teams have revolutionised the Discovery DNA to create a highly desirable, extremely versatile and hugely capable premium SUV.”
Since its launch in 1989 more than 1.2m versions of the vehicle have been sold.
Over the years it has found favour with buyers unable to afford the luxurious Range Rover and unwilling to compromise on the on the more agricultural Defender. One of its major selling points for families has been its seven seats, which made it a better option for the school run than either of the other vehicles.
Now a brand in its own right, Discovery is now seen as more that a stop gap and as such, the manufacturer has had to step up its game in order to compete with a growing list of rivals.
The new vehicle therefore bristles with the latest technology, both as a means of making the product safer and its occupants more entertained and informed.
JLR has invested significantly in the brand and for the first time it is planning a Discovery family, which will be crowned by the flagship Sport model.
This is partly why it spared no expense on the reveal.
The impressive backdrop to the new car was a replica Tower Bridge made from 5,805,846 individual Lego bricks, which broke the previous Guinness World Record by 470,646 pieces. Laid end to end, the bricks would stretch for almost 200 miles, or from Tower Bridge in London to Paris, venue of the new motor show.
Led by the UK’s only Lego Certified Professional, Duncan Titmarsh, the model took five months to construct. It was erected in the grounds of Packington Hall and as part of the dramatic reveal British adventurer Bear Grylls appeared in typically exciting fashion by abseiling from the top of the structure, through the open drawbridge and onto the stage beside the new vehicle.
The finale was Land Rover BAR Team Principal Sir Ben Ainslie driving his sailing team through 900mm of deep water under the bridge.
Sir Ben then towed a Lego replica of the Land Rover BAR boat, a 186,500-brick model of the yacht that will challenge for next year’s America’s Cup.
The model of Tower Bridge was flanked by two Lego ‘Discovery Zones’ celebrating the 27-year lifecycle of the Land Rover Discovery.
An Equestrian Zone, hosted by accomplished rider Zara Phillips, featured a typically British picnic scene made entirely from Lego bricks, while the Bear Grylls Adventure Zone included a Lego fire and boulders to represent a scene from a typical mountain exploration.
