Land Rover Banks on Diesel Power

Equipped with an advanced common-rail 2.7-litre diesel power unit, the Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6 is set to redefine the market that Land Rover pioneered.

Vehicles like BMW's diesel X5 and and Mercedes ML-Class may be the class leaders, but when the new turbo diesel Discovery hits the scene late in 2004, it will make quite an impact.

Matthew Taylor, Land Rover's managing director says of the new vehicle: "The all-new Land Rover Discovery 3 is the purest expression of 21st Century Land Rover. It is modern, boldly designed, packed with high technology and has the broadest breadth of capability in its class.

"Now with the addition of this new engine, that has already earned critical acclaim in its Jaguar form, the new Discovery 3 TDV6 will offer outstanding power, responsiveness and refinement to our customers when it goes on sale later this year."

Anticipated to make up the majority of sales the UK, Europe and Australia, the 2.7-litre direct-injection turbocharged V6 engine develops 142kW (190bhp) of power.

This is coupled with an impressive 440Nm of torque @ less than 1900rpm, endowing the Discovery 3 TDV6 with excellent drivability. The 24-valve engine is far from low tech, and features the cutting edge innovations including a high-pressure common-rail fuel supply, fast-acting electronically-controlled injectors and a turbocharger with variable nozzle control.

Land Rover's powerful 2.7-litre turbo diesel mill will come to market as other automakers also sharpen their focus, looking more closely at how to maximise diesel power output, with marques such as BMW expected to unveil a sporty, yet relatively compact diesel engine for sportscar applications in the near future.

Developed to meet the rugged offroad demands of Land Rover, the 2.7-litre diesel oil sump has pick up points designed to operate at extreme angles and the front crank oil seal is modified to guard against ingress from water, mud or slurry during wading or other offroad driving conditions.

Also unique to its Land Rover application, the TDV6 turbo-diesel has an aluminium ladder frame at the bottom of the crankcase to improve rigidity.

Of course, the new third generation Discovery will also be offered with a 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine, and though it doesn't pack quite as much bottom end, the new V8 will complement the powerful V6 diesel nicely.

The all-aluminium, 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine develops 224kW (296hp) of power and 425Nm of torque, and the generous spread of power is kept constant thanks to features like variable camshaft timing, multi-hole fuel injectors and a 32-valve layout.

Power is fed through a manual or automatic ZF six-speed gearbox on the new diesel model, which should make it quite a punchy proposition, while the automatic unit is standard for the V8 petrol engine. A two-speed transfer box shares the drive between the front and rear axles and features an electrically-controlled locking differential. A similar unit in the rear differential is an optional extra, allowing for maximum offroad traction.

As far as the 4x4's sub-frame goes, the Discovery 3 is based on Land Rover's innovative "Integrated Body-Frame" structure, which allows Land Rover to deliver all the comfort, refinement and on-road poise of a monocoque, while continuing to set new standards in offroad performance.

Along with its burly new 440Nm diesel engine, this could well be Land Rover's trump card.

While most other luxury off-roaders are making use of monocoque frames to give their vehicles sedan- or saloon-like ride and handling, thereby limiting their ability offroad, Land Rover is keeping with tradition by creating a luxury SUV that can really go places.

Further to this idea is independent suspension at all four corners that ride on variable-height air springs, which Land Rover reckons will result in precise road manners yet supple confidence offroad.

The braking system features large disc brakes all-round to provide maximum stopping power, with the TDV6 boasting 317 and 325mm discs on the front and rear respectively.

The Discovery 3 also has a comprehensive array of slip control systems including dynamic stability control, electronic traction control and the award-winning hill descent control to cope with any situation on or offroad. The new headlight clusters also adopt swivel technology to better illuminate around corners.

Developed by Land Rover engineers steeped in the company’s tradition of innovation, Terrain Response was previewed in the Range Stormer concept vehicle and makes its production debut in the Discovery 3.

Simply put, the innovative new system uses only a single chunky control, and the driver simply dials in the appropriate surface confronting the vehicle.

The choices range from a 'General' programme for normal driving, a 'Special' programme for slippery conditions (dubbed ‘grass/gravel/snow’), and three covering offroad surfaces – mud/ruts, sand and rock crawl.

Terrain Response automatically tunes the vehicle's systems including engine and gearbox response, electronic slip control systems sensitivity and even ride height to optimise driveability and comfort as well as maximising traction.

The Discovery 3 is also designed to be a luxury offroader with all the latest interior trimmings, which first and foremost features the iconic spaciousness typical of the brand. Driver's will enjoy Land Rover's traditional 'command' seating position, while all the rear passengers get stadium seating – progressively higher than the seats in front – offering a clear view of the journey ahead.

The optional third row of seats serve up great comfort and will be a real drawcard for Land Rover, giving buyers with growing families another option. This cleverly designed seating layout, fit for seven adults, further improves the Discovery 3's outstanding versatility, including fold-flat rear seats in both second and third rows, allowing for a huge load-carrying ability.

Careful choice of materials for the internal trim enhances the airy practicality of the Discovery 3 and the travelling experience is improved by the latest in-car "infotainment" system options that include state-of-the-art on and offroad navigation and a Harman/Kardon 'Logic 7' digital surround sound hi-fi system, controlled via a widescreen LCD display complete with voice recognition.

Land Rover's big chief, Matthew Taylor, is concise in his view of the about the Discovery 3, saying "It's a true Land Rover, benefiting from a clarity of purpose and conviction that's evident from its clean design, versatility and outstanding dynamic characteristics.

"Like all of the new Land Rovers, it's great to drive on-road as well as being best-in-class offroad. The Discovery 3 will reinforce Land Rover's command of a market sector that it created with the original Discovery. It's a bold and distinctive design that's coupled with innovative features and a range of powerful engines to provide an unforgettable driving experience whether on or offroad."

The new Land Rover Discovery 3 is due to arrive in Australia towards the end of the year, most likely during November.