Land Rover will launch its first hybrid Discovery as part of a roster of updates aimed at boosting the model’s sales, which continue to fall below expectations.
Photos of prototypes show a substantial disguise for what is described by a Land Rover source as a “model-year update”, suggesting the changes are more far reaching than the usual equipment upgrades and light tweaks. More revealing still, however, is that the first prototype we spotted was registered as a hybrid model.
New images show a disguised prototype from all angles, confirming that any planned styling changes are subtle and likely limited to new light clusters and reshaped bumpers.
Land Rover is yet to officially confirm which hybrid powertrain the initial test mule was using. It’s possible the firm is considering introducing a plug-in hybrid variant with the four-cylinder P400e system used on the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.
However, Autocar understands the model spotted testing was a mild-hybrid, using the 48V system added to the Range Rover last year. The only current Land Rover system suitable for a car of this size and weight is the latest turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine mated to a starter-generator and 48V battery.
However, given the Discovery’s diesel-heavy sales mix, expect such a system to be introduced in the four-cylinder and six-cylinder diesels for the seven-seat SUV’s launch, likely at the end of 2020.
Updates such as this will be crucial as Land Rover aims to avoid fines under the EU’s fleet average CO2 target. The brand’s two biggest hopes for achieving this will be the new Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque plug-in hybrids, which are set to be delivered to customers in May. They use a 197bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and a 107bhp electric powertrain for an electric-only range of about 30 miles.
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catnip
Please, Please Land Rover,
Please, Please Land Rover, keep the camouflage on the section aft of the rear doors, on the production version. It does at least make it slightly easier on the eye, and is probably the best you could do without actual sheet metal changes.
Just Saying
Quite right catnip
Monumental design F Up. Sack whoever signed it off.
In line four
Just so big!
Sales are low because the thing is too big. And that ugly rear end. Very ugly
Ski Kid
It is not too large
Just the rear end and side rear is a mess the only new JLR model than was introduced inferior to model it replaced from a design angle ,the Defender is the new Discovery in all but name.
catnip
As expected, they haven't
As expected, they haven't been able to do anything about the disastrous proportions. Forget about bumpers, lights or numberplates, they're mere details that won't make any difference. Thank god for the new Defender!
JMax18
I share the same reservations
I share the same reservations about the design of the discovery, but a strange thing i have noticed is that all such qualms seem to be centred in britain. Press and enthusiasts in other countries often hail it as a beautiful car, even claiming to be the best looking on the market, especially in america and australia. I suppose it is because they are not tied to the histroy of the brand like we brits
sbagnall
Grate car , love one but
Ski Kid
They are all in trouble
VW look set to lose the court cases representing class actions in the Uk and germany just to add to their woes,I think most will strugle with finances over the next 2 years unless they have virtually zero borrowings
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