Just saw a TV news item about the current issues of diesel pollution. They showed some measuring kit being installed into the back of what looked like a Freelander 2, then when it went past on the road it was a Discovery Sport, then in another shot I noticed that it had a 54 plate. Confused

Citroen had variable damper systems in their hydraulic suspension systems 30 years ago. But that was when they used to have all the wacky innovative ideas (like front wheel drive, steerable headlamps etc) and before Peugeot stifled them into a boring car company.

LR NUT wrote:

My stealers get the actual real vehicle this Thurdays all 3 sports just available for one day


The virtual tour was utter pi*h

As Brad Pitt once uttered....

Very good video showing the autonomous braking system

http://euroncap.com/results/land_rover/discovery_sport/578.aspx

Last edited by taztastic on 9th Dec 2014 12:13 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Had my test drive tonight in an HSE Luxury auto. Not the best time to have it at 6pm in the dark but at least the xenon lights were good!

Thought it drove really well and the auto box was very smooth. Not much opportunity to give it any wellie on the road but did seem very responsive on the throttle. The SD 190 engine is standard which I like.

Driving position is a bit lower than FL2 but not that noticeable. Interior of cabin big improvement and the larger lcd display was much more responsive. Liked the adjustable rear seats. Third row are hopeless for adults and getting out was joke! Ok for short trips for kids I suppose but otherwise they will stay stowed away for me.

With third row seats down then boot is wider and deeper than FL2 but not sure about head height with sloping roof.

Overall first impression was good but will need to have it for 24hrs with the family to fully test it out and see what it looks like in the light!

Interestingly the guy from JLR who was there said that they think the pricing is about right as most orders are for HSE and Luxury specs. Also that base model was really a waste of time due to poor spec level. Disco 4 HSE SDV6 Orkney Grey
Gone FL2 MY13 XS TD4 Manual Orkney Grey

Thanks for the report Wilco, can the 2nd row seats be independently shifted fore/aft with one side stowed flat?

Please keep the thread on topic, I have removed the BMW X3 and the bad sentiments surrounding it, it adds little to the discussion of the new car in this thread. I might put it back in a separate thread later.

Wilco44 wrote:

Had my test drive tonight in an HSE Luxury auto. Not the best time to have it at 6pm in the dark but at least the xenon lights were good!

Thought it drove really well and the auto box was very smooth. Not much opportunity to give it any wellie on the road but did seem very responsive on the throttle. The SD 190 engine is standard which I like.

Driving position is a bit lower than FL2 but not that noticeable. Interior of cabin big improvement and the larger lcd display was much more responsive. Liked the adjustable rear seats. Third row are hopeless for adults and getting out was joke! Ok for short trips for kids I suppose but otherwise they will stay stowed away for me.

With third row seats down then boot is wider and deeper than FL2 but not sure about head height with sloping roof.

Overall first impression was good but will need to have it for 24hrs with the family to fully test it out and see what it looks like in the light!

Interestingly the guy from JLR who was there said that they think the pricing is about right as most orders are for HSE and Luxury specs. Also that base model was really a waste of time due to poor spec level.

Adam
The second row are slit 60/40 as normal and can slide back and forth independently and one side can be laid almost flat. This is because unlike the current Fl2 you can't lift the base of the seat up and lay the back down completely flat as the new seats are all one unit. This obviously to allow the seats to slide and recline.

J77
Yes the dealer came with me and we did a 20mins run locally and then had a chat and look round the car back at the dealership. The guy from JLR was also there. Disco 4 HSE SDV6 Orkney Grey
Gone FL2 MY13 XS TD4 Manual Orkney Grey

I'm looking forward to my test drive, it's the last box to be ticked, I like the look of it and I like the feel of it.

At the moment it's the manual HSE I' have on order but may look at the auto. I've changed the spec and colour a few times, even at one point looking at Phoenix Orange, I'm hoping the cars that will there will be of colours other than black or grey.
Though I do like it in Indus silver.

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

About an hour ago, I finished my test drive of an HSE Disco Sport in Scotia Grey. I found the vehicle to be very engaging on road; I was driving for about an hour on a variety of road surfaces and types and it behaved not only competently, but was a very refined and pleasant experience overall.

Given that these are pre-production vehicles, the most obvious improvement was with the existing SD4 190 engine that powers this particular model.

They have soundproofed the cabin significantly over the existing FL, as you can barely hear it - it reminds me of the SDV6 lump in the Disco 4 that I drove back in August. The gearbox (9 speed) is smooth and instantly responsive when using the flappy paddle shift. I managed to coax it into 9th at a mere 58 mph, anything below that speed and the vehicle overrode the shift command and forced it into 8th.

Looking at the 'Eco' data on my return to the Dealership (Guy Salmon Coventry), throughout the 42 mile trip, it gave an instant trip figure of 32.3, which is on a par with my current FL.

Overall, the vehicle was a pleasure to drive on Tarmac, and if it is as capable off-road as the FL is, I would have no hesitation in ordering one for delivery next Autumn, even as a stop-gap between then and the new ingenium engine arriving. Whilst they don't know for definate, the Dealership Sales Team have been advised that we won't see the new engine until MY16, which puts a bit of a spanner in the works for me, however, having seen what they have managed to do with the existing SD4 unit both with a software update and mating it to a decent gearbox, as mentioned earlier, it wouldn't necessarily be a sticking point for me.

I am going to approach JLR with a view to getting a half day experience in the Spring next year, where I will aim to see for myself how it handles in the rough stuff. If it's half as good as its on-road manners, then for me it becomes a no-brainer. Foraging near Gaydon....
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MY13 HSE Lux SD4, Baltic Blue - current, 30,000> miles without fault
MY12 HSE 2.2 SD4, Sumatra Black - gone after 10 months/43,000 fault-free miles

Thanks badger very helpful.

My dealer has a small off road test track, enough to get a wheel in the air and a few side slopes but not a true reflection of the cars abilities. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

Auto express review

 MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

Thanks for the review Badger and the report link @ LR Nut.
For me, I just can't get over the samey styling. Is it a Ewoke, is it a Quasqui, a Volvo or any other cross over/SUV. When a Freelander comes towards me, I know exactly what it is, it shouts L/R.
It's off road ability will be good, as is the Ewoke, but we don't go off road much. So for me it has to be the styling that makes me want a L/R and unfortunately, this hasn't got it.
I think I have got to that age when "Things were better Back then!"

Video on a website, I couldn't get it to work, here's a screenshot, No doubt it was on standard tyres too.

Edit: just tried again and the video seems to have been removed?