Land Rover Discovery 5 (LR5?) in the wild

[Derel1cte]

I know people on this board have said this for every new generation of Discovery, but for me I really can't see anything I like about the coming replacement for the LR4.

Things I hate:
- It's round
- It's symmetrical (******!?)
- It's bloated
- Where the hood intersects with the mirrors and A-pillar just looks dumb
- It's basically a Range Rover Sport
- Wheel flares are dumb
- Sills are too low
- God is dead
- Bumpers are to short/blend too much into the body
- Roof step is too small
- Kill me know
- Complete departure from discover design language
- Rear side windows wrap around D pillar

From Autoblog:

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/07/19/land-rover-discovery-spy-shots/

 

[ColoDisco]

That's a nice car! Remember when discoveries were trucks?

 

[zelatore]

I've been seeing the spy photos for quite some time and keep telling myself 'it's just a disguise...it won't really look like that'. But in my heart I know it's all over for Land Rover. Each generation gets a little softer, a little harder to modify, a little more luxury, a little more expensive... Less and less like something I'd have an interest in owning, and this from a guy who wheels an LR3 - already a pretty soft rig.

I think the last of the V8 LR4s (2013?) will be the last we'll see any attempt at the overland/off-road market. It's all luxury SUVs now with the marketing more interested in comparing them to BMW or Porsche than the glory years of Camel Trophy. *Maybe* the future Defender will bring us back, but consider my breath not held.

 

[AdvRovr]

Definitely a huge disappointment.

The symmetry comment is interesting, though, as it doesn't look *completely* symmetrical. The license plate area has an interesting off-center swoop going on, I'm wondering if there's more in store to keep the traditional back shape. Other than that, sad to see it become another generic SUV. Farewell, character.

*Edit, just realized the Vision concept also had the asymmetric license plate area and that was it. Looks like they really did keep nearly exactly to the concept, which is sad.

 

[Kgh]

http://www.carscoops.com/2016/07/la...ut.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter


Added without comment...

Except the spyshots may be a Disco Sport.

 

[DiscoDavis]

Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the new 2017 Range Rover Sport: Tall Edition, AKA the 2017 Discovery Sport: Heavy Edition

We listened to our customers' feedback, and now 22" wheels are standard with racing slicks. HSE package includes even more curved body lines, a heated liftgate latch, heated cupholders, heated fender flares, heated sunroof glass. NO block heaters however. Also, no seat heaters. Don't forget our autobiography trim which removes the useless middle row middle seat for the infinitely more useful tray table system that you know and love from any airline ever.

We made sure to fit the largest possible rotors and calipers so that there is no way you can downsize wheel dimensions. Because we care.

Lastly, in order to make maintenance easier, we recommend all new customers sacrifice their firstborn on a full moon, third sunday of their warranty period (a luxurious 20,000 miles/1 year). This will allow the repair staff to pay the blood debt that Zuul demands for the exclusive Castrol engine fluid products pioneered to work only with our vehicles.

Guys, can you tell how excited I am for the new Discovery?! I heard the ashtrays in the aft smoking lounge are HUGE.

 

[Derel1cte]

http://www.carscoops.com/2016/07/la...ut.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Except the spyshots may be a Disco Sport.

It's way too big and they just came out with the Disco Sport. I'll be several years before they revise it. Nope. this is a nightmare of a "Discovery" to replace the LR4.

 

[IthrowWrenches]

Unfortunately, people like us are now a small minority of potential new Land Rover buyers. The majority of folks that buy a new LR want this soft garbage. I'll pass. I'd rather keep dumping money into a leaky Discovery 1.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[Blueboy]

Yep, not much heritage left.

 

[Bama4door]

Looks like the new Ford Explorer...

 

[Kgh]

Meanwhile, over at FiatChrysler, a Jeep DCPU is spotted.
Other than traditional low payload capability, maybe this will be a decent platform.

 

[zelatore]

Yeah...if you can stomach being a 'jeep person'.

It's not that the Wrangler isn't a great off-road platform. It is. Heck, a JK can be built much more easily and can wheel circles around any late-model Rover. But the Jeep crowd can be a little, mmmm.....let's just say different than the typical Rover crowd.

It's sort of like Harleys. I ride a Triumph because I like to be different and it's a great bike (Speed Triple currently). Every once in a while I get the idea that I could go for a laid back 'go slow/smell the roses' sort of cruiser and a Road King or similar HD is actually a great way to do that. But then you have to deal with being seen as a Harley rider, and that's not an image I'm good with. Even though there are all sorts riding Harleys, just like there are all sorts wheeling Jeeps, both have a certain stereotype that doesn't work for me.




I think I've offended my quota for the month with that comment so I'll just back off now.

 

[Derel1cte]

Maybe the next Defender will be the LR3/LR4 replacement we are really looking for? I think we can all agree the real Defender is dead and is never coming back, but maybe its replacement will have more in common with today's LR4 and less in common with the Evoque? I guess that's our last hope.



I think it was mentioned before, but I believe the brand died in about 2011-2012 and it was the Evoque that might have killed it.

I love the Evoque for what it is and what it was designed for, but its popularity confused the main brand. Now their SVO department is taking SUVs around the ring instead of doing the G4 challenge. WTH.

 

[zelatore]

Maybe the next Defender will be the LR3/LR4 replacement we are really looking for? I think we can all agree the real Defender is dead and is never coming back, but maybe its replacement will have more in common with today's LR4 and less in common with the Evoque? I guess that's our last hope.



I think it was mentioned before, but I believe the brand died in about 2011-2012 and it was the Evoque that might have killed it.

I love the Evoque for what it is and what it was designed for, but its popularity confused the main brand. Now their SVO department is taking SUVs around the ring instead of doing the G4 challenge. WTH.

I don't know if it was the Evoque that killed Rover, but I agree with you about the timing and direction of the company. I suspect it's the same reason all manufacturers push SUVs - high profit margins. They're relatively cheap to build but can be sold for high dollars. I know those of us who actually use them off-road are a minority but how long can LR keep their image of 'go anywhere' when each new launch is less capable than the previous? That image is what sets them apart in the marketplace from the other luxury SUVs but it won't be long before it's totally forgotten. Then they'll just be another expensive leather-lined, tech-infused tall car like a BMW x-series, Merc M-class, Porsche, Jag, Bentley, etc... (my god, that those last few build SUVs is a dagger to the automotive heart)

I didn't actually realize the Evoque was that popular. I don't see them on the road that often. In Sausalito where I spend a lot of time for work I see MANY Rovers on the streets but more LR4s/RRS/RR than anything. I suppose in an area like that nobody wants to be seen in something as low-brow as an Evoque.

 

[EricTyrrell]

Nice barbie car. At this rate the Discovery 6 will only be about discovering your feminine side. Maybe it'll have an off-road flower vase like the bugs.