The All-New Discovery discovered
A premium SUV with a go anywhere pedigree.
Yochanaan Coetzee - Last weekend, Republikein was invited out to Pretoria, to get hands-on with Land Rover's All-New Discovery, at what can only be described as a road and rut-ready revelation.
Before I get into any of the epic detail, we need to clear one thing up: This is not the Discovery 5 and it is definitely not the new “Disco”.
Rather, it's been designated as the All-New Discovery, and for good reason.
Designed with the digital age in mind and Land Rover's love of old-world adventuring at heart, the All-New Discovery separates builds on the brands.
Setting off
Our adventure started with an early-morning trip to Jaguar Land Rover's training facility in Centurion, where we were briefed, kitted and paired up with a vehicle and travel buddy before setting off for our first stop of the day, the Serendipity Eco Offroad Trails, near Modimolle.
Getting there we had to make our way up the Platinum Highway and although most of our fellow road users and especially the children we passed on our route were in awe of the 15-strong convoy of barely-released SUVs streaking past, one never felt too aloof, even when carting around in just short of N$1 million.
That figure though is for the entry-level model, so if you want all the goodies you'd be looking at up to N$1.4 million for the HSE Luxury spec, like the 3.0 TD6 Turbodiesel I was sharing with the beautiful Olive Garacha, editor of fashion magazine Coutre Africa in Kenya.
You're not so much occupying the new Discovery, as you are lounging in it. The premium comfort is offset with a sense of posh practicality.
The seven-seater employs a mix of electronic updates and principles proven over the past 20 years to ensure it can seat seven adults in complete comfort, because as we discovered 1 300 m up a stunning mountain pass, when you're living the Land Rover lifestyle, there isn't always a good place to get out and stretch.
Larny Landy
The all new Discovery's interior can easily be mistaken as that of the Range Rover. Its high-end styling, meticulous attention to detail and raft of technology will have you feeling like Q custom made it for you.
The bold interior is modernisation of the Discovery's predecessors and enjoys high-quality leather, authentic wood and metal inserts and finishers across its strong, sculpted lines.
The 10-inch infotainment screen looks incredible at centre stage and gives you access to a plethora of multimedia, navigation and system settings with the user interface on par with the latest cellphones.
There are a range of features which can be activated through the touchscreen or InControl Apps, such as electronically collapsing the back five seats to up the interior storage space to a posh, panel van equaling 2 500 litres.
You also get a sublime sound system, replete with a 825 W Meridian™ Sound System with 14 speakers and a sub woofer and a million little places, spaces, pockets and binnacles to store your belongings, including 11 tablets sized ones and semi-hidden ones behind your climate controls and underneath your centre console drinks holders. Each seat can be heated and with up to nine USB ports and six 12-volt sockets every passenger can charge their mobile phone or tablet while on the go.
Adventure Advocate
At Serendipity Eco Offroad Trails, part of our group went off to experience the first obstacle course of the trip, while the rest got schooled in the future of independent adventuring.
Thanks to its semi-autonomous Advanced Tow Assist, which allowed our haute couture outdoors woman, Olive, to expertly back to a 3 500 kg trailer (which she remarked was slightly smaller than her wardrobe), deploy the Discovery's hidden tow hitch, lower it using the control panel in the back and hook up her first trailer without breaking a sweat.
To make sure everything works, the Discovery also has a trailer diagnostic system, which runs through a lighting sequence, so you can set off with complete peace of mind, even if you're more of a lone ranger.
Next up was the obstacle course. Now usually when dealers entrust N$ 1.5 million to some jet-lagged journos, they choose courses that are somewhat idiot proof.
Not Land Rover, the track was properly scary. With craggy drop-offs, a deep wade through a rocky river and the most astonishing ATPC-assisted (All-Terrain Progress-Control) climb, even the most bakkie-averse boytjie is allowed to keep up with the likes of Kingsley Holgate.
ATPC is an absolute revelation and acts like cruise control for off-road driving. Simply select a speed up to 30 km/h and the Discovery's drive computers will automatically apply the correct amount of acceleration and braking to get up anything, and over and around anything - your nerves and shaky throttle may not.
Thanks to its self-leveling air suspension, the All-New Discovery can have its ride height adjusted for either low-slung city slicking or up to a maximum of 283 mm for when you're feeling adventurous, or need to get creative when finding parking in the CBD.
With a wading depth of 900 mm, an approach angle of up to 34 degrees, a break-over angle of 27.5 degrees and departure angle of 30 degrees, the All-New Discovery definitely won't be regarded as the spoiled millennial dark horse of the Landy family.
This, coupled with Land Rover's award-winning Terrain Response 2 technology, which automatically selects the low-range gears when drivers engage off-road driving programmes for rock crawling or mud ruts.
Ruling the road
Thanks to its lightweight aluminium monocoque construction, Land Rover has managed to shake 480 kg of flab, without sacrificing on strength and stiffness. Its driving dynamics have also been greatly improved compared to when it had a steel ladder construction. The All-New Discovery also makes use of an advanced integral link rear suspension, borrowed from its high-class cousins, to deliver superior handling characteristics without compromising the superb ride comfort.
After a quick lunch at a fabulous pop-up cafe they had set up in the woods, we set off for the Marakele National Park in Limpopo.
With Olive at the wheel, I suddenly realised the true extent of the Discovery's performance. Being the owner of a Discovery Sport and frequent traveler in the forests and national parks near her native Nairobi, Olive knew how to get the best out of the 190 Kw and 600 Nm of the 3.0 TD6 Diesel.
Caning through back roads in rural Limpopo and on the rough tracks and passes of the majestic Waterberg Biosphere, we made our way to the front of the pack in what had now become a rally against the setting sun.
And for good reason, Marakele is not only enchanting, but thanks to the presence of the big five, potentially perilous.
After getting there first (we started fourth) and whiling away time playing with the nifty activity key, which lets you lock your key away and open the car with a waterproof armband, the rest of our convoy started to arrive.
After a safety briefing, we headed into the lush forest, only to soon be confronted by a herd of elephants blocking the road. This, however, gave us the opportunity to test the Discovery's turning circle, which worked well as we managed to get nearly 20 SUVs turned around on the tight single-track road.
Once we made it to a stunning luxury tented lodge in the middle of nowhere, we were welcomed by non other than old grey himself, Kingsley Holgate.
After a lovely dinner, epic fireside storytelling session about his “million-miles” adventures through Africa and how Land Rover has not only taken them to the continent's farthest reaches, but to better millions of lives in the process, we retired in preparation of the next day's dairy.
Performance prioritized
A predawn drum session signaled it was time for the adventure to resume. After a short walk past some big-cat spoor and fresh-morning elephant dung, we packed into some vehicles and set off to a lookout point up the pass to watch the sunrise and have some coffee.
Now, excuse me if I skip the details, but being the driver, I kinda focused on not sending myself and my 6 new friends to our demise as we hugging the mountain all the way up.
After, a cup of coffee, some selfies and a round of prayers, we set off back to camp. We then packed up for the last leg of our journey back to reality. Thankfully we were then given the chance to experience the Si6 V6 Supercharged Petrol - at a cost though.
Our new ride was not the luxury spec we had the day before, but while it didn't have all the trappings, like the independent rear entertainment screens (which come with HDMI ports nogal), but with 335 Hp and 450 Nm, the fun is up front.
Light, sprightly, but with a mass of menace when called upon, the petrol version shoots through its slick 8-speed beautifully and makes for an invigorating drive.
Not that the diesel is slow, it's just one second slower to a 100 km/h than the petrol, but how it gets there is special.
Reaching home base, after an adventure of this scale and nature, is always a good feeling. Especially when you haven't scratched it.
The All-New Discovery stands absolutely true to its name and while we're still figuring out what the next one will be called, its versatility, modern styling and future-proof levels of technology makes this one of my favourite cars to be launched this year. The All-New Discovery truly redefines the segment popularised all those years ago.
The All-New Discovery will be launched this evening at an invite-only event, but will be ready to be discovered at Novel Land Rover's showroom as of Monday.
Before I get into any of the epic detail, we need to clear one thing up: This is not the Discovery 5 and it is definitely not the new “Disco”.
Rather, it's been designated as the All-New Discovery, and for good reason.
Designed with the digital age in mind and Land Rover's love of old-world adventuring at heart, the All-New Discovery separates builds on the brands.
Setting off
Our adventure started with an early-morning trip to Jaguar Land Rover's training facility in Centurion, where we were briefed, kitted and paired up with a vehicle and travel buddy before setting off for our first stop of the day, the Serendipity Eco Offroad Trails, near Modimolle.
Getting there we had to make our way up the Platinum Highway and although most of our fellow road users and especially the children we passed on our route were in awe of the 15-strong convoy of barely-released SUVs streaking past, one never felt too aloof, even when carting around in just short of N$1 million.
That figure though is for the entry-level model, so if you want all the goodies you'd be looking at up to N$1.4 million for the HSE Luxury spec, like the 3.0 TD6 Turbodiesel I was sharing with the beautiful Olive Garacha, editor of fashion magazine Coutre Africa in Kenya.
You're not so much occupying the new Discovery, as you are lounging in it. The premium comfort is offset with a sense of posh practicality.
The seven-seater employs a mix of electronic updates and principles proven over the past 20 years to ensure it can seat seven adults in complete comfort, because as we discovered 1 300 m up a stunning mountain pass, when you're living the Land Rover lifestyle, there isn't always a good place to get out and stretch.
Larny Landy
The all new Discovery's interior can easily be mistaken as that of the Range Rover. Its high-end styling, meticulous attention to detail and raft of technology will have you feeling like Q custom made it for you.
The bold interior is modernisation of the Discovery's predecessors and enjoys high-quality leather, authentic wood and metal inserts and finishers across its strong, sculpted lines.
The 10-inch infotainment screen looks incredible at centre stage and gives you access to a plethora of multimedia, navigation and system settings with the user interface on par with the latest cellphones.
There are a range of features which can be activated through the touchscreen or InControl Apps, such as electronically collapsing the back five seats to up the interior storage space to a posh, panel van equaling 2 500 litres.
You also get a sublime sound system, replete with a 825 W Meridian™ Sound System with 14 speakers and a sub woofer and a million little places, spaces, pockets and binnacles to store your belongings, including 11 tablets sized ones and semi-hidden ones behind your climate controls and underneath your centre console drinks holders. Each seat can be heated and with up to nine USB ports and six 12-volt sockets every passenger can charge their mobile phone or tablet while on the go.
Adventure Advocate
At Serendipity Eco Offroad Trails, part of our group went off to experience the first obstacle course of the trip, while the rest got schooled in the future of independent adventuring.
Thanks to its semi-autonomous Advanced Tow Assist, which allowed our haute couture outdoors woman, Olive, to expertly back to a 3 500 kg trailer (which she remarked was slightly smaller than her wardrobe), deploy the Discovery's hidden tow hitch, lower it using the control panel in the back and hook up her first trailer without breaking a sweat.
To make sure everything works, the Discovery also has a trailer diagnostic system, which runs through a lighting sequence, so you can set off with complete peace of mind, even if you're more of a lone ranger.
Next up was the obstacle course. Now usually when dealers entrust N$ 1.5 million to some jet-lagged journos, they choose courses that are somewhat idiot proof.
Not Land Rover, the track was properly scary. With craggy drop-offs, a deep wade through a rocky river and the most astonishing ATPC-assisted (All-Terrain Progress-Control) climb, even the most bakkie-averse boytjie is allowed to keep up with the likes of Kingsley Holgate.
ATPC is an absolute revelation and acts like cruise control for off-road driving. Simply select a speed up to 30 km/h and the Discovery's drive computers will automatically apply the correct amount of acceleration and braking to get up anything, and over and around anything - your nerves and shaky throttle may not.
Thanks to its self-leveling air suspension, the All-New Discovery can have its ride height adjusted for either low-slung city slicking or up to a maximum of 283 mm for when you're feeling adventurous, or need to get creative when finding parking in the CBD.
With a wading depth of 900 mm, an approach angle of up to 34 degrees, a break-over angle of 27.5 degrees and departure angle of 30 degrees, the All-New Discovery definitely won't be regarded as the spoiled millennial dark horse of the Landy family.
This, coupled with Land Rover's award-winning Terrain Response 2 technology, which automatically selects the low-range gears when drivers engage off-road driving programmes for rock crawling or mud ruts.
Ruling the road
Thanks to its lightweight aluminium monocoque construction, Land Rover has managed to shake 480 kg of flab, without sacrificing on strength and stiffness. Its driving dynamics have also been greatly improved compared to when it had a steel ladder construction. The All-New Discovery also makes use of an advanced integral link rear suspension, borrowed from its high-class cousins, to deliver superior handling characteristics without compromising the superb ride comfort.
After a quick lunch at a fabulous pop-up cafe they had set up in the woods, we set off for the Marakele National Park in Limpopo.
With Olive at the wheel, I suddenly realised the true extent of the Discovery's performance. Being the owner of a Discovery Sport and frequent traveler in the forests and national parks near her native Nairobi, Olive knew how to get the best out of the 190 Kw and 600 Nm of the 3.0 TD6 Diesel.
Caning through back roads in rural Limpopo and on the rough tracks and passes of the majestic Waterberg Biosphere, we made our way to the front of the pack in what had now become a rally against the setting sun.
And for good reason, Marakele is not only enchanting, but thanks to the presence of the big five, potentially perilous.
After getting there first (we started fourth) and whiling away time playing with the nifty activity key, which lets you lock your key away and open the car with a waterproof armband, the rest of our convoy started to arrive.
After a safety briefing, we headed into the lush forest, only to soon be confronted by a herd of elephants blocking the road. This, however, gave us the opportunity to test the Discovery's turning circle, which worked well as we managed to get nearly 20 SUVs turned around on the tight single-track road.
Once we made it to a stunning luxury tented lodge in the middle of nowhere, we were welcomed by non other than old grey himself, Kingsley Holgate.
After a lovely dinner, epic fireside storytelling session about his “million-miles” adventures through Africa and how Land Rover has not only taken them to the continent's farthest reaches, but to better millions of lives in the process, we retired in preparation of the next day's dairy.
Performance prioritized
A predawn drum session signaled it was time for the adventure to resume. After a short walk past some big-cat spoor and fresh-morning elephant dung, we packed into some vehicles and set off to a lookout point up the pass to watch the sunrise and have some coffee.
Now, excuse me if I skip the details, but being the driver, I kinda focused on not sending myself and my 6 new friends to our demise as we hugging the mountain all the way up.
After, a cup of coffee, some selfies and a round of prayers, we set off back to camp. We then packed up for the last leg of our journey back to reality. Thankfully we were then given the chance to experience the Si6 V6 Supercharged Petrol - at a cost though.
Our new ride was not the luxury spec we had the day before, but while it didn't have all the trappings, like the independent rear entertainment screens (which come with HDMI ports nogal), but with 335 Hp and 450 Nm, the fun is up front.
Light, sprightly, but with a mass of menace when called upon, the petrol version shoots through its slick 8-speed beautifully and makes for an invigorating drive.
Not that the diesel is slow, it's just one second slower to a 100 km/h than the petrol, but how it gets there is special.
Reaching home base, after an adventure of this scale and nature, is always a good feeling. Especially when you haven't scratched it.
The All-New Discovery stands absolutely true to its name and while we're still figuring out what the next one will be called, its versatility, modern styling and future-proof levels of technology makes this one of my favourite cars to be launched this year. The All-New Discovery truly redefines the segment popularised all those years ago.
The All-New Discovery will be launched this evening at an invite-only event, but will be ready to be discovered at Novel Land Rover's showroom as of Monday.
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