Land Rover’s Special Vehical Operations (SVO) has cooked up a new, hardcore Discovery to complete its product triangle.
Since its inception, the Land Rover brand has been etched into the public consciousness as a byword for off-roading prowess. From the rough-and-ready Defender to the supremely luxurious Range Rover, all-terrain ability comprises the brand’s core identity. With the Defender not currently in production, Land Rover has apparently been itching to produce a hardcore off-road model. This is it: the 5.0-liter, supercharged V8 Discovery SVX. This rip-snorting Disco is set to appear alongside its Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) siblings at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which starts today.
The 2019 Discovery SVX is billed as the most extreme Land Rover to date.
The “ultimate” Discovery is squarely aimed at off-roading enthusiasts seeking the adventurous lifestyle synonymous with Land Rover’s traditional core values. In the SVO stable, the Discovery sits at the opposite end of the spectrum from the hyper-luxurious Range Rover SV Autobiography. In terms of all-terrain ability, it also sits down the line from the Range Rover Sport SVR. While those two cars also sport a fire-breathing V8, Land Rover markets them more for their on-road performance than their go-anywhere capability. The Discovery SVX redresses that balance with higher ground clearance, better approach and departure angles, more robust suspension, and chunkier all-terrain tires.
Land Rover hasn’t limited the SVX to simple mechanical changes, however. This new Disco also receives a specially tuned Terrain Response 2 system. Terrain Response controls the center and rear differentials to improve traction on all surfaces. It also features Hydraulic Active Roll Control (H-ARC) – a system meant to increase while articulation while off-roading, and reduce body roll while on the road. In today’s tech-laden automotive world however, those systems clearly aren’t enough. To that end, the new Discovery also has a plethora of driver assist systems. These include Hill Descent Control, Electronic Traction Control, Adaptive Dynamics, Dynamic Stability Control, and All-Terrain Progress Control, among others.
This is a car for enthusiasts who favor off-road performance rather than supreme luxury.
The SVX certainly makes itself known here, with its Tectonic Grey paint finish accented in hints of “Rush Orange”. The exposed recovery hooks and distinctive skid plates are there to show prospective buyers this Discovery means business. It’s certainly not as understated as a Range Rover, but that’s specifically what will endear it to its target market. Throw in a 518 horsepower (525 PS) V8 and some 275/55/R20 Goodyear Wranglers, and this discovery is ready to tackle any off-road challenge.
Click here to check out Land Rover’s full press release on the Discovery SVX.
