| Author | Message | ||
     George Collins (Zinhead) New Member Username: Zinhead Post Number: 11 Registered: 12-2001 |
Article Text: The current Land Rover Discovery has been on the market since 1998 and will be replaced by an all-new model in autumn next year. It will appear in the U.S. in early 2005 as a 2005 model. The photos are showing disguised prototypes of the new seven-seater, but our computer illustration reveals the Range Rover�s undeniable influence. The next-generation Discovery will no longer have the spare wheel mounted on the rear door but under the boot floor, but the Discovery will maintain the characteristic �step� in the roofline. Sitting on a new platform codenamed T5, the newcomer will measure a bit more in overall length and wheelbase than today�s model but less in width and height. In exchange it will have a more luxurious MPV-style interior and is promising a better-balanced and sportier handling. It will furthermore adopt Range Rover�derived front and rear suspension designs. The new Land Rover Discovery will again feature permanent four-wheel drive, and power will come from a choice of three new engines: a 4.2-liter V-8, a 2.7-liter common-rail V-6 turbodiesel, and later on, a 4.0-liter V-6. Click for Pictures | ||
| David Marchand (Dmarchand) Member Username: Dmarchand Post Number: 182 Registered: 09-2002 |
Hold onto those DII's people. That thing is fugly. | ||
| Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Dweb Lounge Member Username: V22guy Post Number: 1746 Registered: 02-2002 |
Come on George, that report is completely incorrect. That's the new Eddie Bauer RangeExplorerRover by Ford. The new D3 has the TD5 engine, CDL, and solid axles. Okay, from the movie American Beauty: "Never underestimate the power of denial" Paul | ||
| Brett W. (Offrovn) New Member Username: Offrovn Post Number: 26 Registered: 02-2003 |
Why is it that I feel like this is just one giant step backwards for Land Rover and improvement/innovation. I don't really care if mechanically or something else is better (which I don't even know about that) its just UGLY. I sure hope that is not even close to what the final body will look like. Why even call it a Discovery or Series III or whatever, call it what it is, a poorly designed Ford influenced Explorer Series III or something. That is truly unfortunate. I spoke with a guy at Land Rover yesterday and he said 2004 will be the one to get because it will have (as it does now) the 4.6, the current body and locking diff (that parts new). He said prices should be good specially at the end because of all those people who just want the new technology. They may even like they did in 1999 include more as a standard package on the discovery because of the arrival of the new ones. In 1999 the SD included leather, power seats, heated seats, wood and some other things. We'll see. This folks may be the rapture, not the lounge. I may be going overboard, but... Brett | ||
| Glenn Guinto (Glenn) Senior Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 692 Registered: 02-2002 |
I wonder if it will have the self closing air intake that automatically closes for 15 seconds under water like in the new RR.  Glenn | ||
| Chris Marcel (Gumarcel) Senior Member Username: Gumarcel Post Number: 851 Registered: 11-2002 |
It looks like a freaking mix between an Element and a Discovery  | ||
| Tim (Snowman) Senior Member Username: Snowman Post Number: 505 Registered: 12-2002 |
My first thought was Honda Element. | ||
| Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Dweb Lounge Member Username: V22guy Post Number: 1749 Registered: 02-2002 |
That's agood question Glenn. You never know when You are going go completely under water causing a wave to crash over your windscreen. Paul | ||
| Glenn Guinto (Glenn) Senior Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 693 Registered: 02-2002 |
Man, if I can only retrofit that in my D1 I wouldn't need a Snorkel...  Glenn | ||
| Phillip Perkinson (Rover4x4) Senior Member Username: Rover4x4 Post Number: 360 Registered: 02-2003 |
Elemtovery | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 935 Registered: 09-2002 |
there's nothing disguised about this one -  | ||
| Andy Thoma (Andythoma) Senior Member Username: Andythoma Post Number: 382 Registered: 01-2003 |
interesting thing is it look like the approach and departure angles are better than the current d2. I don't mind the look as much as mind the loss of the sfa and sra. Bet it will make the soccer mom's happy though. | ||
| Chris Marcel (Gumarcel) Senior Member Username: Gumarcel Post Number: 853 Registered: 11-2002 |
The tire size looks too small also | ||
| David Marchand (Dmarchand) Member Username: Dmarchand Post Number: 183 Registered: 09-2002 |
If that POS was half as functional as the Element, then it's worth it. Unfortunately, that's not it's market. The Element has grown on me recently as it's functional as hell, it's a honda, and it's cost effective (or cheap). | ||
| James P Groom (Jpg) New Member Username: Jpg Post Number: 17 Registered: 06-2003 |
Yuck Check out the next generation JGC/Mercedes at the same site. | ||
| Andrew Maier (Newman) Member Username: Newman Post Number: 82 Registered: 04-2003 |
Double yuck: "The next-generation Discovery will no longer have the spare wheel mounted on the rear door but under the boot floor...." WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Like the man said, hold onto those D2's... | ||
| Andrew Maier (Newman) Member Username: Newman Post Number: 83 Registered: 04-2003 |
AND.... "sportier handling" OMFG. This sucks... | ||
| Mike Pelechaty (Tonga) Member Username: Tonga Post Number: 49 Registered: 03-2003 |
IT MAKES ME WANT TO KILL MYSELF! Actually, functionally, who really knows. From just a pic however, I can truthfully say that my D1 is way better looking so based on that alone I'm stocking up on parts. | ||
| David Marchand (Dmarchand) Member Username: Dmarchand Post Number: 184 Registered: 09-2002 |
Is it me, or does the '05 BMW M5 look like a Saab 9-3? To me, the Saab 9-3 looks no better than a chevy malibu. | ||
| Greg (Gparrish) Senior Member Username: Gparrish Post Number: 1317 Registered: 04-2002 |
I wouldn't mind having one to keep stock as my daily driver and then keep my 01 D2 for playing. As I don't think I'll be buying a new rangie anytime soon, this is a nice alternative for just road trips and daily driving. Could be wrong though. | ||
| Michael Noe (Noee) Senior Member Username: Noee Post Number: 701 Registered: 03-2002 |
In a way, this is a mixed blessing, IMO. Seems this will keep a few more people out of the woods/trails, which might be a good thing. No one is gonna buy this thing for offroad use, most likely the people who'll buy this car will go on a fire road once, decide it's too risky, go home and never go back out except to the mall. I say, fine. You still have the older discos (D1s and D2s), RR, defenders and series vehicles, there should be enough out there for anyone serious about a LR. You've got your head in the sand if you didn't see this coming, there are all kinds of solid business reasons that this was inevitable. | ||
| Justin (Vanroth) Member Username: Vanroth Post Number: 65 Registered: 02-2003 |
Well said michael. -justin | ||
| Kennith P. Whichard III (Kennith) Senior Member Username: Kennith Post Number: 373 Registered: 05-2002 |
Always look on the bright side of life, Even LR can't ignore the market currently being dominated by Hummer and J@@P. This is the perfect opertunity to re-introduce the Defender. I am sure they need higher sales and a better business case with a fallback though, and it looks like they could use increased discovery sales. LR could sweep the charts with a properly marketed Defender. Hell, jeeps are entirely impractical and they sell in droves. From square one the Defender was the improved Jeep and it still is. Hell, this is the USA, with the import truck market the way it is they could probably make a killing with only the truck cab variant. I know many who would love those old-fashioned good looks. The damn thing looks like a miniature dump truck. You really have to see one in person, I mean a NEW AA Yellow Defender 110 High Capacity Truck Cab. Just look at one and tell me they couldn't eat fleet contracts up by the dozens. Cheers, Kennith | ||
| Dan Armbruster (Dan_armbruster) Member Username: Dan_armbruster Post Number: 232 Registered: 04-2003 |
Sorry the 2005 M5 looks nothing like a shitty Sabb 9-3. I doubt the Saab could match the new M5 V10 500 hp engine either. It's an M5! Hello, it's the coolest(and one of the fastest) cars with four doors. | ||
| David Marchand (Dmarchand) Member Username: Dmarchand Post Number: 187 Registered: 09-2002 |
Hmm, it may be "M5" but it still looks like the 9-3 which is now just a dressed up Malibu...    | ||
| Brian Goodner (Bluewater) Member Username: Bluewater Post Number: 3 Registered: 03-2003 |
on the tech board they had another pic of the 2005 disco so i'm not going to believe anything until i see one myself at the dealership. | ||
| Brett W. (Offrovn) New Member Username: Offrovn Post Number: 31 Registered: 02-2003 |
I like that attitude Brian, I have to say I see some strong similarities between that saab and M5. I understand under the hood they may look nothing alike but exterior, hmm.. | ||
| Chad Meyer (Ccdm3) Member Username: Ccdm3 Post Number: 136 Registered: 07-2002 |
That is a computer generated photo of an M5 by a magazine who is trying to sell copies. It does not resemble the new 5 series. (which does not look like a Saab) | ||
| Brett W. (Offrovn) New Member Username: Offrovn Post Number: 32 Registered: 02-2003 |
I think your right chad we just got a M3 and were talking to the guy about the new 5 series and they will look basically identical to the 7-series. That in itself is dissapointing though. | ||
| Martin Tuip (Ajax) New Member Username: Ajax Post Number: 6 Registered: 06-2003 |
This was the shot from the tech forum http://www.imakenews.com/autospies/e_article000154843.cfm | ||
| Richard Dekkard (Richard_dekkard) Member Username: Richard_dekkard Post Number: 108 Registered: 04-2003 |
that green disco photo above is a composite generated estimation of what the new disco looks like.. the one Martin posted is real.. | ||
| Brian Goodner (Bluewater) Member Username: Bluewater Post Number: 10 Registered: 03-2003 |
is it just me or does that disco pic look similar to a freelander i think it may be the grill thats making me think that or the was the roof goes up at the ends... | ||
| Erik Olson (Jon) Senior Member Username: Jon Post Number: 414 Registered: 02-2002 |
It is not the rapture - these new models will act as the catalyst for the introduction of thousands of pre-owned, factory maintained, low-cost D1 and D2 cast-aways that will inevitably flood the market when the '05s hit the lots. Should be able to pick up a <50k mile 99 D1 for $5k I'd wager. For what we'd been spending on our trucks these past years, we'll all have a fleet of three. One for market, another strictly for off-road and a third also strictly for off-road. I'm getting excited. Now, do you think those 05 headlights will fit in my D1?? | ||
| Brian Goodner (Bluewater) Member Username: Bluewater Post Number: 22 Registered: 03-2003 |
i thought 2003 Dicoveries were d-III's but i guess i was wrong. | ||
| George Collins (Zinhead) New Member Username: Zinhead Post Number: 12 Registered: 12-2001 |
03 Discos are IIa's. | ||
| Gil Stevens (Gil) Senior Member Username: Gil Post Number: 362 Registered: 02-2002 |
no they arent. there is no IIa disco, the 03 disco is the 03 disco. | ||
| Brian Goodner (Bluewater) Member Username: Bluewater Post Number: 38 Registered: 03-2003 |
yea i knew it wasn't a IIa, so the 03 discos aren't classified by a series? | ||
| Art Bitterman (Aardvark) Member Username: Aardvark Post Number: 49 Registered: 05-2003 |
IMNSHO, the only True Series are the ones with Leaf Springs! Donning Nomex suit as we speak! Art Bitterman 1960 SII, "Aardvark" | ||
| Zach Jaggers (Mountenn) Senior Member Username: Mountenn Post Number: 331 Registered: 03-2003 |
Gil said it correctly. Technically, it is a 2003 model Land Rover Discovery Series II...however, it's just an '03 Disco...with no CDL... | ||
| Rubin Dhillon (Rubin) New Member Username: Rubin Post Number: 1 Registered: 07-2003 |
Some more pics - another nice "undisguised" shot. If this thing is real, we have lost the rain gutter - so how a roof rack is mounted is anyone's guess. http://www.landrover-center.com/ | ||
| Michael Noe (Noee) Senior Member Username: Noee Post Number: 703 Registered: 03-2002 |
This SUV is not designed for off road use, I hate to state the obvious. Tell me, who is going to be buying these trucks? | ||
| Brian Goodner (Bluewater) Member Username: Bluewater Post Number: 78 Registered: 03-2003 |
haha land rover Al-Kida where did you ever find that? | ||
| Christopher Boese (Christopher) Member Username: Christopher Post Number: 110 Registered: 10-2002 |
I'd guess that Martin's link to Auto Spies will give a better idea of what the new Discovery will actually look like. Actually, that photo got posted a while back, but those posts have gone to archive by now. I'm trying to be optimistic - I didn't think the new Range Rover was designed for offroad work either, but it does quite well, I've heard. | ||
| Mike M (Mikem) Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 43 Registered: 02-2003 |
Here's a picture of the 2005 disco in action.... http://www.pavementsucks.com/album/frankraines20030222/dsc00017.jpg Enjoy |
