High-tech 2017 Land Rover Discovery 5 spotted testing

Land Rover’s next-generation big SUV has been caught testing for the first time

The all-new 2017 version of the Land Rover Discovery has been spotted testing for the first time as the brand prepares its new rival for the likes of the Volvo XC90.

The fifth-generation Discovery is expected to feature similar design cues to the recently released Discovery Sport and the Discovery Vision concept that was revealed at the 2014 Beijing motor show.

Underneath the camouflage, the new Discovery appears to have a softer front end, with a clamshell bonnet. There also appears to be a restyling around the C-pillars and rear end, bringing the Discovery into line with the smaller Sport model. The rear is set to come with a more raked window angle, with the window itself framed by a spoiler.

The spy shots also show off new front air intakes and revised headlights and tail-lights. The overall intention is to create a sportier, more modern look than that of the current Discovery.

The new version is also expected to come with a host of new technology, with equipment designed to make the car more capable on and off road.

New Discovery's big technology

Suspension - Land Rover pioneered the use of preset suspension, ESP and engine settings for use on different terrains. The new Discovery could get laser-scanning tech, which can ‘read’ the terrain ahead and adjust suspension and transmission settings on the fly.

Structure - The Discovery 5 is based on the same basic bonded and riveted aluminium monocoque as the new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport and will be made at the Solihull plant.

Laser projectors - Laser light projections on to the road can give the driver an exact indication of the car’s width – useful in any tight situation – and might even project large indicator symbols on to the road surface to make the driver’s intentions clear in packed urban traffic. 

Engine - The frugal hybrid system in the Discovery 5 will be based around the new 2.0-litre Ingenium engine and an electric motor enclosed in the eight-speed automatic gearbox. Even this set-up can have uses in town and country. In urban areas, the Discovery hybrid should have an EV-running range of about 10 miles. Off road, the electric motor could be ideal for metering out torque precisely enough to prevent wheel slippage. 

'Transparent' bonnet - The 'transparent' bonnet tech - which projects an image of the road or terrain beneath on to the bonnet – will be useful not only off road but also in urban areas.

Interior - Land Rover’s strategists have decided to bring the interior dramatically into the future, using a much larger central touchscreen than previously and a laser head-up display (HUD) that projects information in a much crisper and clearer manner than conventional HUDs.

Remote drive - Remote Drive could allow Discovery owners to empty the car of occupants and then automatically park the car in a space that would otherwise be too tight to allow the doors to be opened.