In a special event in Venice, California, Land Rover pulled the wraps off the First Edition version of its highly anticipated new Discovery SUV in a celebration that was splashed with outdoor lifestyle cues that included surfing, kayaking, spinning and biking. To lend additional authenticity to the “active lifestyle” vehicle, big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton and champion volleyball player and fitness star Gabby Reece traveled from Hawaii to sing the praises of the attractive new vehicle.
If you want to wow your neighborhood, you can be among just 2,400 customers to take possession of the exclusive First Edition model. Not only will you get bragging rights, the First Edition showcases some of the key design and technology features of the fifth-generation Discovery.
Exclusive color combinations
A critical differentiator between the First Editions and other Discoveries is the availability of exclusive color combinations. The three distinctive First Edition exterior treatments include “Namib Orange” with a black grille and detailing, “Narvik Black” contrast roof and 21-inch black wheels; “Silicon Silver” with the same black grille and detailing and 21-inch silver wheels; or “Farallon Black” with 21-inch silver wheels and black grille and detailing.
The exterior color combination will be paired with three interior colors, giving customers what Land Rover calls “a genuinely distinctive proposition.” Special First Edition details also include “aluminium” (what we call aluminum) interior trim on the fascia and doors featuring an etched map motif depicting the new Discovery’s British design and engineering.
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Aluminum inside and out
The use of aluminum is logical, because by using an aluminum versus a steel body structure, the new Discovery has shed an incredible 1,000 pounds versus the outgoing LR4. Despite the weight savings the body is stiffer than before, and the reduced weight enabled Land Rover engineers to specify a lighter, more fuel-efficient powertrain. The bulk of the vehicles bound for North America will feature the 340-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter gasoline-fueled V-6 carried over from the LR4. With a substantial 332 lb.-ft. of peak torque, the gasoline engine is expected to deliver good responsiveness in traffic and at high speeds, aided by the 8-speed ZF automatic transmission.
The other engine offered in the new Discovery is a 254-horsepower turbocharged diesel V-6 that makes up for its relatively low nominal horsepower with 443 lb.-ft. of torque at as little as 1,750 rpm. We have yet to drive either drivetrain version, but we expect the lighter fifth-generation Discovery to be the most fun-to-drive Discovery yet. And the First Edition model is bound to get admiring stares wherever it travels.
