Land Rover Discovery Sport Archives

2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport in showrooms, priced from RM379,800

A new Land Rover Discovery Sport is now in Malaysian showrooms, available in two variants priced from RM379,800 (excluding insurance and roadtax). Customers can choose from the 5-seater or the higher-spec R-Dynamic variant with 5+2 seating which is priced at RM409,800.

New design cues on the bolder front end and a sportier silhouette identify the latest Discovery Sport R-Dynamic. Modernity and refinement are also reflected in the new signature LED lighting systems front and rear. Of course, the traditional Land Rover design features are still present – a prominent clamshell bonnet, rising beltline and tapered roof.

Now with Driveline Disconnect
The driving experience is said to be improved with the new power transfer feature called ‘Driveline Disconnect’. Incorporated in the All-Wheel Drive system, this feature works by disconnecting the drive of the front axle to the rear wheels under steady state cruising, thereby reducing frictional losses and re-engaging AWD in less than 500 milliseconds.

In addition, the Terrain Response 2 system is now a standard feature. Developed with Land Rover’s decades of experience in 4×4 systems, Terrain 2 Response optimises performance, traction and control on a variety of surfaces. A simple twist of a dial selects the appropriate driving mode (Comfort, Sand, Grass-Gravel-Snow, Mud & Ruts) and adjusts the characteristics of the throttle, brakes, differentials, and transmission. An AUTO mode automatically adjusts torque delivery to suit the terrain.

As with other Land Rover models, the Discovery Sport uses an engine from the Ingenium family, in this case a 2-litre turbocharged unit. Power flows through a ZF 9-speed automatic transmission with a very low first gear for strong low-end acceleration and a tall top gear for reduced engine revs at higher cruising speeds.

Smart technologies
Unlike the early Land Rovers which were engineered to be extremely tough but were technologically simple (which was an advantage off-road), today’s Land Rovers offer advanced smart technologies. Drivers of the Discovery Sport have, for instance, ClearSight Ground View, Land Rover’s world-first technology which is a new feature for the Discovery Sport. It provides drivers with a clear virtual view of the ground ahead so they can navigate over rough ground, park in tight spaces and avoid hitting kerbs.

Connectivity is also advanced with a 10-inch high-definition Touch Pro infotainment system which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system also allows the driver to control the climate system and Terrain Response 2, while an Interactive Driver Display with a large 12-inch high-definition screen displays multiple types of information. The new Discovery Sport also comes with wireless charging which can be used for devices that have the capability.

Also available is a Generation 2 Head-Up Display (HUD), with vehicle speed, gear position and navigation directions projected onto the windscreen ahead of the driver. The high-resolution, full-colour graphics are visible in any lighting conditions and allow the driver to keep his or her eyes ahead.

As safe as passenger cars
With 4X4 SUVs spending almost all their time on highways and able to travel at high speeds, safety is even more important and Land Rover has provided a host of advanced safety technologies. These include High-speed Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist and Driver Condition Monitor as well as the 360° Surround Camera that is equipped with Wade Sensing features. Should an accident occur, there are no less than 7 airbags to help reduce serious injuries.

All new vehicles distributed by Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia have been engineered and tuned for Malaysian conditions and fuel quality. They come with a ‘Land Rover Care’ programme which is based on whichever comes first – a warranty of 5 years or 150,000 kms; scheduled servicing for 5 years or 65,000 kms; and 3 years of Roadside Assistance.

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Land Rover takes on dog power in Finland

This year’s warm summer has left much of Northern Europe without snow, and as such, the dogs training for the winter championships may not be sufficiently prepared. In an effort to circumvent the problem and challenge the arctic’s best sled pullers in the process, Land Rover stepped up to the plate.

This is only fitting, considering that an estimated 50 per cent of Land Rover customers own or regularly travel with a dog. This not only proves that its vehicles are dog friendly, but are capable of travelling through tough terrain to get to their destinations.

A short film has been released by the British automaker, documenting the feat of transporting a team of sled dogs to the underground Vesileppis Ski Tunnel in Finland for a unique training challenge. The vehicle of choice was the Discovery Sport, which will go head to head with these dogs around this dedicated underground tunnel for a unique 1km sprint.

The undulating tunnel is carved into the bedrock 35m below ground level and kept at constant -2°C to maintain a blanket of snow 20mm deep throughout the summer. This will not only push these sled dogs to their limit, but also demonstrate the capabilities of the Discovery Sport and its various offroad technologies.

The competitors set off in opposite directions, however the dogs had a much simpler circuit to deal with compared to the Land Rover. Once they had negotiated the first incline, all they had to to was pick up and maintain speed throughout the race.

The Land Rover on the other hand had to deal with maneuvering past ice blocks, putting its wheel articulation and traction control systems to the test. Despite what many might think, the Discovery has inherited quite a bit of offroading tech from its bigger brothers.

Driver of the Discovery Sport, Lead Engineer for Stability Control Systems at Jaguar Land Rover, Karl Richards, said, “Snow is one of the most demanding surfaces drivers will encounter during winter around the world and Discovery Sport proved to be as comfortable in these conditions as the dogs.”

He then added, “Land Rover’s advanced Terrain Response technology and intelligent four-wheel drive system ensure our premium compact SUV is in a class of its own when it comes to off-road driving – whether you’ve got two legs or four.”

As we know from this video, the two lap race was a close one with the Land Rover winning it by a whisker, no pun intended. But this goes to show how advanced automotive technology has become that a family SUV now has the capability of shadowing the most reliable method of transportation in arctic conditions – the sled dog.

The 290bhp Land Rover Discovery Sport may not be as prestigious as its more expensive Range Rover siblings, but its still a very capable vehicle.

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