Discovery 4

As was usual in automotive development, Land Rover needed to make improvements to the Discovery once again during the late 2000's. Although the Discovery 3 was selling reasonably well (despite the global recession of 2008 onwards) there were some parts of the vehicle that required improving according to customer feedback surveys. lt was felt that the interior of the Discovery 3 was not as comfortable as it could be with some drivers reporting neck pain on long journeys. The large amount of switchgear on the facia was also a notable concern, and the Navigation system was using the wrong type of mapping that was proving to be quite unreliable at times. The most important complaint however was quite simply the poor fuel economy - ever rising costs of fuel in Europe were being felt by everybody by end 2008 and Discovery drivers were no exception.

So the design and development teams got to work and came up with a solution that followed the Discovery tradition of revamping an existing design to suit new requirements. As had happened before, both at the time of the Discovery 1's revamp in 1994 and the Discovery 2's equivalent in 2002, it was to work out cheaper to use some existing parts and add in what was already available in the way of new technology alongside some new design features. This time around though, there were so many changes approved for the updated vehicle that it was decided to call it the Discovery 4, which took everyone by surprise when announced in the spring of 2009.

Elements of the Discovery 4 were also shared with updated versions of the Range Rover Sport and the Range Rover, to be released at the same time. The existing 2.7 litre TDV6 diesel engine was modified to include a new ECU with a form of kinetic energy recovery system designed to improve fuel economy. A new enlarged 3.0 litre version of the TDV6 was also introduced -this had two turbochargers, reduced emissions (244 g/km) and also had the KERS system on board, but was only made available with the 6 speed ZF automatic gearbox. Petrol engines for non-European markets were as before, also with the automatic gearbox as the sole option. All powertrains were shared with the latest cars from Jaguar, as Jaguar Land Rover was now the new name for the parent company of Land Rover, owned by the Indian based Tata Corporation, who also owned what remained of British Steel under the Corus guise.

The Discovery 4 used the same T5 chassis and bodyshell combination as the Discovery 3 with a vastly improved interior and heavily revised front and rear design elements. LED lighting was introduced to all exterior lamp clusters in an attempt to further reduce energy requirements and to assist fuel consumption improvements. New lighter weight panels were used in some areas of the bodywork such as the front wings. A new front grille along with a new front bumper arrangement complemented the new front lighting. A selection of new alloy wheels was released and larger brake discs fitted to most models. Twin air intakes were included, one on each of the front wings. Higher end models gained body coloured wheel arch surrounds and revised mud flaps were available for all models.

The new interior featured improved seating all round with all models being supplied with seven seats (except for the Commercial vans). All seats were redesigned to be firm yet comfy at the same time with improved squabs and fabrics. The facia was changed to incorporate a new centre console with repositioned (and redesigned) switchgear and a new instrument pod featuring traditional tachometer and speedometer elements was combined with a new five inch LCD screen capable of displaying different information according to what the vehicle was doing at any one time. Automatic Climate Control was standard on all Discovery 4 models and featured new rotary controls in the centre of the facia design.

A new steering wheel incorporating an airbag, remote audio controls, vehicle system display controls, cruise control switches, and the controls for the Bluetooth and voice control systems, complimented a new brighter seven inch LCD display screen located in the top centre of the facia. This multi-function display was capable of showing the new NAVTEQ driven Navigation system, the (up to) five external camera system, the audio control panel, the off-road system information, the digital compass, the digital/analogue television system where fitted, and the Bluetooth mobile phone information. DAB radio technology was also available as an option but the built-in CD player was now only a single disc unit -there were USB and iPhone/iPod connectors fitted to most models in the lid of the central cubby box. The parking brake was electric (as on the Discovery 3) but featured a new chrome finished operating lever.

A major new innovation for the Discovery 4 came in the form of an optional five-camera Trailer Assist package which featured cameras mounted in the front headlamp enclosures, on the wing mirrors, and one located in the rear door next to the central stop lamp. The output from these was displayable on the central seven inch facia mounted LCD multi-function screen to the interior. The aim of the package was to enable single person trailer hitching, and to stabilise the vehicle when towing. (A simplified single-camera version of this package was subsequently released for retro-fitment to a range of other vehicles, using a rear-view-mirror LCD screen fitment where no main facia screen is available).

All other vehicle systems were carried over from the Discovery 3 including Terrain Response (which featured an extra Sand setting). There was, however, no ignition key required for the Discovery 4 -instead there was a large button labelled "Engine Start - Stop”. The keyfob had to be placed in one of a number of locations within the vehicle (it could remain inside the driver's trouser pocket if required) in order for the vehicle to start up. Manual vehicles had to have the clutch depressed during the start-up procedure, whilst automatic vehicles had to bein Park or Neutral. lf the vehicle detected that the outside temperature was less than 5 degrees Celsius then the Cold Start program came into play, which would also switch on front and rear heated windscreens where fitted.

A misfuelling device was supplied as standard and fitted to the fuel filler - it prevented diesel models being filled with petrol by mistake. Door handles were finished in a dark chrome finish. A new range of interior trim wood finishes was fitted to certain models and trim patterns came in Ebony or Beige colour schemes. A "Speed Warning" audible chime could be user defined to any speed and cruise control was an optional fitment to some manual versions but standard to automatic vehicles.

The Discovery 4 launch model line-up in the UK consisted of a "Base” and "XS" Commercial van with the 2.7 litre TDV6, a "GS" seven-seat version with a choice of the two diesel engines, and “XS” and "HSE" seven seat versions with the 3.0 litre TDV6 engine. In the USA the model was launched as the LR4 and came with the choice of two trim levels and V8 engines as usual. Specifications varied around the rest of Europe and the World. The Discovery 4 was welcomed by customers who particularly liked the less cluttered switchgear and the updated modern look of the vehicle. It continued to win numerous awards including "Best Towcar” from three different leading magazines in 2010. However, the reduced emissions from both diesel engines did not go far enough to reduce the tax liability of the new vehicle in almost all European countries, thus having impact on sales. Sales of the various Commercial versions were therefore expected to continue rising across Europe and elsewhere where emissions based tax had been introduced.

As mentioned earlier, the Discovery 4 came equipped with a five-inch LCD screen located in the middle portion of the instrument pod (mounted in portrait aspect ratio). This had a multi-functional aspect to it and the information displayed on it at any one time depended on what the vehicle was doing at that time and on what the driver had set it up to do as well. At unlock it displayed a generic picture of the Discovery 4 along with the time and date. When circuits were turned on by pressing the "Engine Start-Stop" key once, the display changed to a mixture of warning lights and messages if required and temperature displays, along with a graphical representation ofthe vehicle showing if any doors were open. With the engine running and driving in high gears the display showed outside temperature, engine temperature, fuel tank readout and a choice of selectable MPG or L/100KM readouts, together with a constant speed readout in either format. By pressing the "i" (information) button on the end of the indicator stalk the display would show user selectable menus where settings such as the speed warning display could be set (using the rocker control on the top right hand side of the steering wheel. Messages were displayed on the screen and usually accompanied by a warning chime. The brightness of the display and all facia switch lights could be set by a rocker switch but the whole lot were continuously illuminated as soon as the vehicle electrical circuits were switched on (meaning that it was all too easy to think that the vehicle headlamps were also on!).

All switchgear in the Discovery 4 had been redesigned and relocated from the positions as occupied in the previous model. The introduction of multi-functional touch screen technology had further reduced the need for some switches (such as the telephone keypad on Bluetooth equipped vehicles for example). The control for Terrain Response had been moved to the front of the gear lever making it easier to see and use from the driver’s position. The top of the facia was finished in black stitched leather, which added to the vehicles posh feel and was even supplied on the Commercial van variants!

The Discovery 4 was an instant hit, and despite the continuing global financial problems of 2010 sales of all variants went up by as much as 140% over 2009 figures. A significant number of Discovery enthusiasts who were not keen on the Discovery 3 waited for their opportunity to purchase one of the latest models as the overall opinion was that the Discovery 4 fixed all the problems and issues associated with the outgoing model. As usual with the story of the Discovery, the Discovery 4 combined luxury with practicality in its best form to date - and the sales figures reflected this. Production figures had to be increased to meet demand and this is exactly what happened with rising sales and increasing interest in the vehicle particularly from fleet orders.

In 2012 the one millionth Discovery was built, a white coloured special edition which went on a journey around the world to celebrate. Just prior to this a new ZF 8 speed auto greabox with a rotary selector was introduced across the model range as standard, designed to aid fuel economy yet further and to offer even more off-road control.

The Discovery 4 went from strength to strength during it's seven year production run, with a revised version going on sale for the 2014 model year, as before there were minor cosmetic improvements and redesigned front bumpers and lights. Commercial versions were just as popular due to their tax advantages. The production lines at Solihull were never as busy at that time. And it continued right up and until the end of the production run in 2016, to make way for the all new Discovery 5.