1 Oct 2009
A SLEEKER new front-end, all-new interior, thoroughly upgraded chassis, new features and two ripping new petrol and diesel engines were enough to back up Land Rover’s description of the 10MY Discovery as a fourth-generation model.
Available in four specification levels in Australia from launch, the all-automatic Discovery 4 wagon arrived with a choice of powerplants including a carryover 2.7-litre TDV6 that delivered the same 140kW of power and 440Nm of torque – and the same average fuel consumption of 10.2L/100km as before.
The 2.7 TDV6 came standard with five manually-adjusted cloth seats, but could be specified with a leather-trimmed seven-seat pack that included a third row of seats with head curtain airbags, map lights and accessory power outlet, plus a 35/30/35-split second row, for just $2500.
Next up was the 3.0 TDV6 SE which delivered 29 per cent more peak power (180kW at the same 4000rpm) and some 36 per cent more torque, with a class-leading 600Nm on tap from 2000rpm.
The impressive engine also reduced fuel consumption by nine per cent on the combined EU cycle, to 9.3L/100km, with average CO2 emissions also falling almost 10 per cent to 244g/km.
It came standard with seven leather seats and also added powerfold mirrors, bi-Xenon headlights with cornering lamps and 19-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels, in lieu of the 2.7’s 18-inch five-spoke wheels.
The 3.0 TDV6 in HSE trim further added a rear-view camera, front parking sensors, rear air-conditioning and a premium hard-disc navigation system with voice control and off-road mapping.
Other additional TDV6 HSE features not available on the base V6s included new 19-inch seven split-spoke wheels, a USB touch-screen sound system, woodgrain trim options, driver’s seat and mirror memory, interior mood lighting, a rear luggage net, illuminated front vanity mirrors and an HSE leather pack comprising front armrest, leather gearshifter, passenger and (powered) driver’s lumbar adjustment and eight-way front seat power adjustment.
The range-topping, all-new direct-injection 5.0-litre V8 flagship offered 276kW at 6500rpm – up from 220kW) and 510Nm at 3500rpm.
Topping off the 10MY Disco is an all-new, more upmarket dashboard and centre console with fewer controls, relocated Terrain Response controller and driver-focussed cockpit, plus new seats with height-adjustable head restraints (no more headrest-mounted grabrails) and a new multifunction leather steering wheel.
A classy and user-friendly new five-inch thin film transistor (TFT) key information display is situated between the redesigned instrument cluster, plus two new interior contrast colours – Nutmeg and the darker Arabica.
New technologies include an automatic High Beam Assist feature, Portable Audio Interface, Tow Assist, keyless entry, push-button start and a five-camera surround system to aid parking, towing and off-road manoeuvring (up to 18km/h).
Three new paint colours are also available - Nara Bronze, Bali Blue and Ipanema Sand.
All 10MY Discoveries came standard with cruise control, Terrain Response, an electric parking brake, permanent four-wheel drive, a centre electronic differential with low range transfer box, electronic cross-linked air suspension with automatic load-levelling and multiple modes, and power-assisted speed-dependent steering.
Also standard across the range were rain-sensing headlights and wipers, automatic headlights with washers, power-adjustable one-touch windows and (heated) mirrors, door puddle lamps and footwell lamps, front foglights, rear parking sensors, a tow pack, full-size alloy spare wheel, an automatic dimming interior mirror, dual climate-control system, a nine-speaker 240-Watt Harman/Kardon CD sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, automatic central locking and an alarm.
Standard control systems included electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), an all-terrain anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic traction control (ETC), dynamic stability control (DSC), electronic differential control (EDC), emergency brake assist (EBA), enhanced understeer control (EUC), roll stability control (RSC), trailer stability assist (TSA) and hill descent control (HDC) with gradient release control (GRC), plus twin front, front-side and two-row side curtain airbags.
