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08-10-2012 at 01:00: New Diesel 13MY Discovery 4

The Land Rover Discovery 4 is world-renowned as the ultimate all-purpose vehicle. For 2013, the Discovery 4 sets the standard even higher with new optional features including the Extended Leather Pack inspired by the HSE Luxury Limited Edition, and distinctive Black Design Packs available with 19″ or 20″ all-black painted wheels and a host of black trim finishers and design details such as gloss black grille and fender vents.

There is now a choice of five additional body colours and two new interior colours and trim enhancements, offering greater opportunity to personalise the car.

The infotainment system has been upgraded to include the latest generation DAB radio and a new digital TV tuner, whilst the navigation system now comes with premium features such as Off-Road guidance and 4x4i.

The 183kW 3.0-litre LR-SDV6 and entry level 155kW 3.0-litre LR-TDV6 diesels will now power the Discovery 4 with the ZF 8HP70 8-speed automatic transmission, producing CO2 emissions of just 230g/km and 224g/km respectively, whilst the 276kW 5.0-litre LR-V8 naturally aspirated petrol engine is powered with the ultra-refined ZF 6HP28 6-speed automatic transmission.

On the outside, five new body colour choices are available on the Discovery 4 at 2013 model year. Havana, Barolo Black, Barossa, Mariana Black and Causeway Grey will all be added to the range. The HSE derivative also offers a new, 19-inch 7-spoke alloy wheel in Bright Silver finish.

There’s broader choice on the inside as well, with two new interior colours and two new trim finishers. Arabica seats with Nutmeg stitching and Ivory seats with Ivory stitching are both now available in Windsor premium leather. A new Grand Ivory Lacquer veneer provides a striking and contemporary contrast with Ebony facia and door casings, whilst new Gloss Black switch finishers on the steering wheel have been added to the Grand Black Lacquer veneer feature. Cosmic Grey interior finishers are also introduced as a new option.

For the 2012 variant, the audio system electrical architecture was upgraded to the latest MOST Gen 2.1. This system has now evolved and for 2013 model year the radio has been upgraded to the latest generation DAB+ and DMB-A broadcast formats and a new digital TV tuner has been introduced across all derivatives, capable of receiving MPEG4 digital streams.

In line with the improvements introduced in 2012, the entry level audio is an 8-speaker system with colour display and options for Bluetooth, and USB/iPod connectivity; the High-line Harman Kardon System has 11-speakers and an output of 380W, whilst the Premium Harman Kardon LOGIC 7 system has 17 speakers and delivers an amazing 825W.

Touch screen is available independently of the navigation system and Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) is equipped with a single slot DVD drive in the audio head unit so the disc can be conveniently loaded from inside the cabin.

The rear seat audio system incorporates WhiteFireTM cordless headphones, and can also be controlled by wireless remote control. The system supports connectivity with games consoles and video playback of MP4 files stored on USB. The phonebook stores several thousand entries, whilst the TFT Message Centre interface displays audio, phone and navigational information.

The responsive 3.0-litre sequential turbo diesel engines come in two versions, 183kW and 155kW, producing 230g/km and 224g/km CO2 respectively. The 3.0-litre 155kW engine replaces the outgoing 2.7-litre V6 for the 2013 model year. Its better fuel economy reduces CO2 emissions from 244g/km for the 2.7-litre, to 230g/km.

These diesel engines are equipped with the same parallel sequential turbocharging system and third generation common rail fuel injection system. Throttle response is said to be staggering with maximum torque available from only 2,000rpm.

The 3.0-litre diesel can outperform its rivals by delivering 500Nm in only 500 milliseconds from idle. When it was introduced at 2010 model year, the parallel sequential turbocharging system was the first of its kind to be fitted to a V-engine anywhere in the world. The twin turbochargers work sequentially to provide best in class torque at low speeds and pack a huge punch at high speeds.

A variable geometry, medium-sized turbocharger is in use most of the time during average acceleration and up to motorway cruising speeds and performs with no discernible lag. This is more efficient than series turbocharging systems where the smaller primary turbo increases energy losses.

The third generation common rail fuel injection system operates at 2,000bar, the piezo injectors minimising noise while optimising combustion. The system operates in ‘metering mode’ supplying just the right amount of fuel to the injectors rather than returning it to the tank and wasting energy in the process. All diesel models are now fitted with a DPF and have an advanced EGR system to reduce NOx.

Introduced on the new diesel derivatives is the ZF 8HP70 transmission that offers better response while driving fuel consumption and CO2 emissions down to an all-time low. Eight speeds provide closer ratios and a greater overall ratio spread, while the higher overdrive ratio compliments the huge torque of the 3.0 LR-SDV6, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Efficiency is further improved by the internal mechanical layout of the 8HP70 which means that no more than two internal clutches are open at any one time.

The 8HP70 is packed with energy saving features. The hydraulic actuating system is more efficient too, the hydraulic pump drawing less energy from the engine. The torque converter is calibrated to lock-up at lower speeds and operating temperature, reducing fuel consumption and once again taking advantage of the 3.0-litre diesel engine’s immense low-end torque.

Transmission Idle Control seamlessly and transparently selects neutral when the car is stationary and the engine idling in drive, reducing drag on the engine and saving fuel. In hot conditions it selects a lower gear to run the engine and air conditioning pump faster to cool down the cabin quickly. In cold conditions it runs the engine faster to reduce warm-up time and emissions.

The 8HP70 matches the engine speed to its turbine speed in anticipation of oncoming downshifts for a smooth transition from one ratio to the next. Closer ratios also contribute to making individual shifts smoother.

Driver Type Detection monitors driver inputs and the car’s systems to optimise the response of the gearbox to the driver’s style, while Curve Detection makes sure the gearbox avoids unwanted upshifts and holds on to the same gear when taking a sequence of bends. The gearbox also monitors the driver’s use of the brake together with the rate of deceleration to set up the correct gear for entry and exit to the corner. The 8HP70 does not have to change to a lower gear sequentially and can skip up to six ratios if necessary, for much faster response when preparing to overtake.

Driver controls include steering wheel paddles as standard enabling the driver to take control of gear shifting manually. The rotary switch selects park, reverse, neutral, drive or sport modes, the last of these optimising the gearbox response times for maximum acceleration, improved response and sharper upshifts.

The astonishing 5.0 LR-V8 naturally aspirated engine is a lightweight aluminium alloy engine which is both super-efficient and compliant with the stringent US ULEV2 and European EU5 emissions regulations.

The 5.0 LR-V8 produces 276kW and 510Nm torque with low CO2 emissions of 328g/km. One of the secrets of the V8′s efficiency is the centrally-mounted, multi-hole, spray-guided fuel injection system delivering fuel at a pressure of up to 2175psi (150bar) directly to each cylinder.

The injectors are positioned to deliver fuel precisely to the centre of the combustion chamber for maximum air-fuel mixing and accurate combustion control. The charge cooling effects of the direct injection system allow a high compression ratio of 11.5:1 which further improves engine efficiency. During the engine warm-up phase, the combustion system employs multiple injection mode strategies to deliver 50 per cent more heat for fast catalyst warm-up and substantially reduced emissions.

A number of clever design features include the industry-first, torque-actuated variable camshaft timing on all four cams. Unlike conventional systems which rely on oil pressure, these are actuated by the positive and negative torques generated by the opening and closing of the valves, reducing energy consumption. Cam profile switching (CPS) selects either a profile suitable for low speed running or another which gives increased lift for high performance. This provides the Discovery 4 with better low-end torque to negotiate demanding terrain and allows it to become fleet of foot when conditions allow.

Torque and power is also optimised by a variable inlet manifold which changes the length of its eight inlet tracts. The manifold switches between a 680mm inlet tract to provide high torque at low revs and a 350mm inlet path allowing maximum power at high revs. The precise position is optimised throughout the rev range at all times. The engine also features a unique reverse flow cooling system where coolant passes through the cylinder heads before the block. This allows the heads to remain cooler and the knock threshold is pushed further back for greater efficiency.

An oil to water heat exchanger also transfers heat from the coolant to the engine oil. These features promote faster engine warm-up for reduced emissions and enables the cabin to warm-up faster too. Frictional losses have been reduced by the use of Diamond-Like Carbon Coating (DLC) on some components, an intelligent oil pump pressure relief valve (PRV) to optimise oil pressure and the use of lower viscosity 5W-20 oil further reduces parasitic losses without compromising durability.

The LR-V8 drives through the refined ZF 6HP28 6-speed automatic transmission. Its characteristics have been optimized by Land Rover engineers to provide the same class-leading response, with rapid and refined shifts. The power and torque characteristics of the engine make it possible to actuate the transmission’s lock-up clutches much earlier in each gear, reducing slip through the hydraulic torque converter, optimizing both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The Discovery incorporates several other energy saving features too. At standstill, the idle speed of the 3.0 LR-TDV6 is a low 710rpm and the LR-V8, 700rpm, using the minimum of fuel without compromising refinement. An Intelligent Power Management System includes Smart Regenerative Charging, so whenever possible the alternator charges the battery when it is most economical to do so, such as when the car is coasting rather than accelerating.

Aerodynamic features at the front end such as the lower chin spoiler and front wheel deflectors help to reduce drag by increasing underfloor airflow. The air conditioning pump is driven through a clutch which disengages when the air conditioning is not in use, reducing parasitic losses and delivering improvements in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The Discovery 4 suspension system is widely acknowledged as being the most versatile ever developed for both on-road and off-road use. A variable ratio steering rack gives greater stability during high speed cruising and increased sensitivity at acute steering angles.

Powerful brakes comprise twin-piston sliding callipers with 360mm ventilated discs at the front and single piston with 350mm ventilated discs at the rear. The understeer control system intervenes by automatically slowing the vehicle to bring it back under driver control.

Land Rover’s acclaimed Terrain Response system includes a setting for general driving; grass, gravel, snow; mud and ruts; sand; and rock crawl. Two additional features were added in 2011: Hill Start Assist which automatically retains the driver-generated brake pressure when the driver’s foot moves from brake to throttle without the car rolling backwards; and Gradient Acceleration Control, designed to provide safety cover on severe gradients when the driver does not have Hill Descent Control engaged.

By pressurising the brake system, Gradient Acceleration Control slows the car to a limit determined by the throttle position when the car is descending the slope in the driver’s intended direction of travel.

“The Discovery 4 continues to win awards for its unrivalled versatility and breadth of capability, accommodating up to seven passengers in comfort whatever the terrain,” said John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director.

“For 2013, the breadth of choice gets better, with equipment upgrades and our new Black Design Packs enhancing the key design attributes that our customers identify with today. As the ultimate all-purpose vehicle, the Discovery 4 is now more compelling than ever before.”

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