START-UP ADVICE

SPEND IT CARS
78
NEW LAND ROVER DISCOVERY-
MORE LUXURY, MORE TECHNOLOGY
T
he Range Rover may be the
most glamorous Land Rover
around, but the Discovery more
than holds its own in the desirability
stakes with its supreme space,
versatility and out and out capability.
Now, to celebrate its 25th birthday,
the company has brought the two closer
together than ever, with the introduction of
a luxurious and striking XXV Special Edition,
plus there are enhancements and new
features across the range.
Reader favourite - the HSE spec, now
features 20” alloy wheels as standard rather
than the previous 19” and customers can
also bring that added touch of luxury to their
Discovery of choice with the option of adding
the Grand Black Lacquer wood and leatherwrapped
steering wheel from the XXV Special
Edition anniversary model. There are also
fresh new colour as Aruba, Kaikora Stone
and Montalcino Red which replace Luxor,
Ipanema Sand and Nara Bronze.
One of the key features promises to
provide cutting edge in-car technology.
Land Rover InControlTM Apps has been
introduced as a customer option to
complement the Discovery’s existing
infotainment system and provide the
ultimate for in-car connectivity. It brings the
convenience, familiarity and original look and
feel of compatible smartphone apps into
the owner’s vehicle, which are displayed and
controlled from the vehicle’s touchscreen.
This technology has been developed with
some of the world’s leading smartphone app
developers and is compatible with the latest
Apple and Android smartphones. Optimised
for in-car use, Land Rover InControlTM Apps
offers services such as satellite-navigation,
media streaming, internet radio and location
services, whilst also providing easy access
to the connected smartphone’s contacts,
calendar and music library.
Compatible apps include Stitcher,
Glympse, Sygic, Parkopedia, Hotelseeker,
Cityseeker, Eventseeker, News on Board and
MobileDay, the latter enabling one-touch
access to voice conference calls without the
need to dial a number. Plus the range of
apps is being continually expanded, with new
content available every time the apps update.
On test the latest HSE Luxury Discovery
doesn’t disappoint. In the new colour
Kaikoura Stone, with almond, butter-soft
leather seats, nutmeg carpeting and
black lacquer veneer touches, it’s striking
yet tasteful. Options fitted to the test car
included the Vision Assist Pack, Exterior
Detection Pack and a useful cooled cubby
box.
Out on the road, the 255bhp 3-litre V6
engine capable of an 8.8 secs 0-60mph
sprint, coupled with a super-smooth
8-speed auto box makes for a spirited and
powerful drive. A long journey from the
south coast to Gower in Wales was a breeze,
with passengers enjoying the comfortable
stadium seating, excellent visibility, acres
of leg, shoulder and head space and
in-car technology. This new Discovery is
economical too – returning a respectable
35.3mpg combined.
Land Rover’s Discovery is without doubt
the best 7-seater true 4x4 around by far,
offering an elusive combination of out
and out off and on-road capability, space,
comfort, looks, and driveability. £59,965
OTR inc VAT minus options. www.landrover.
co.uk