Beijing 2014: Land Rover Discovery concept shown

Land Rover has revealed the future of its expanded Discovery range with a versatile and technology-packed SUV concept shown at the Beijing motor show, following its official reveal at the New York motor show earlier this week.

The Discovery Vision Concept – which has appeared in Beijing in a new orange paint scheme, but is otherwise unchanged from the New York vehicle – heralds a range of initially four SUV models that will wear the Discovery badge, taking the 25-year-old nameplate to a whole family of ‘leisure’ vehicles in the same way that Land Rover has with Range Rover and Defender.

The new concept car establishes the design themes, versatile, high-tech interiors and off-road prowess of the Discovery family. It also previews a whole raft of advanced technology that’s set to come from Jaguar Land Rover in the coming years, including the ability to control the car remotely.

“The Discovery concept vehicle represents a vision of our future family of leisure SUVs,” said Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern. “Its modern, relevant and compelling design is a significant shift from Discovery as we know it. Vision puts design at the core, design which resonates on an emotional level.

"It has beautiful proportions, it's poised, it has a strong stance as all Land Rovers do. It's versatile inside and out and can be associated with lots of different lifestyles.

The first Land Rover model to wear the Discovery name in the next generation of vehicles will be a replacement for the current five-seat Freelander. It is due to be seen before the year is out and is based on the Range Rover Evoque platform. There will also be a seven-seat Freelander replacement.

The staple Discovery model and a new addition to the line-up will be a rugged seven-seat off-roader in the mould of Toyota’s Land Cruiser. This will be a sister car to Jaguar’s upcoming SUV and a new Range Rover model that will slot between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport.

Crowning the range will be a direct replacement for the current Discovery, but with an even plusher and more premium execution. It is this model — built on the all-aluminium structure that underpins the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport — that the Discovery Vision Concept most closely previews.

The styling of the concept is a complete departure from the current Discovery 4. The silhouette is sportier and the lines and detailing more curvaceous. The overhangs are also shorter to give a more compact look, and there are flourishes from the Range Rover family in the wraparound lights and the grille pattern.

However, there are still nods to the current Discovery in the concept’s stepped roof and inside, where the Discovery’s famed ‘command’ driving position remains, as do the three rows of seating progressively elevated in a theatre-like style to give all occupants a good forward view. "It recognises its unique Discovery heritage," said McGovern "Inside it is open, and the interior is packed with pioneering futuristic technology. It is immensely versatile."

"It's a compelling vision with ideas that can drive a new range of Discovery models. These ideas will transition to new vehicles."

The body-coloured C-pillars remain from the Discovery 4 but are now more rakish. The split tailgate of the Discovery 4 is ditched for a single tailgate that, when opened, allows a platform to slide out from the base of the load area within the rear bumper to create what Land Rover dubs a ‘social seat’.

Other concept car flourishes include the rear-hinged doors and the absence of B-pillars, the doors opening to reveal a versatile 2+3+2 cabin that can seat seven full-sized adults. Land Rover says passengers are catered for “equally” with lots of legroom and headroom and their own infotainment and storage.

The seats in the second and third rows are all independent and can be folded flat and slide fore and aft to create myriad layouts. These include a four-seat ‘limousine’ mode, in which the outside seats in the second row slide and fold forwards and the middle seat folds down to form a table, making maximum legroom for two people in the third row.

The interior design is more sophisticated and luxurious than the Discovery 4’s. The centre console is dominated by a large central touchscreen to carry out almost all interior functions. This can also be controlled by small touchpads on the steering wheel.

High-quality materials and details feature throughout, including luxurious metals, special leathers that are washable and totally oil and water repellent, and gesture-operated mood lighting.

An extensive amount of new technology in the Discovery Vision Concept includes laser headlamps that scan the road and can automatically dip certain parts of the beam.

Another feature is ‘Smart Glass’, used for the whole glasshouse, which can display images like a computer screen. This allows for the ‘Transparent Bonnet’ function, an image being projected from the head-up display on to the windscreen in the driver’s field of vision, giving an impression that the bonnet is see-through. This enables the driver to see the terrain immediately below.

The glass also allows the panoramic roof and passenger windows to be infinitely dimmed or fully blacked out.

Smartphones can be added to the individual infotainment functions for four of the five rear passengers (each getting their own 10-inch touchscreen tablet in the back of the headrest in front), allowing images to be displayed on the glass using the car’s wi-fi. Many controls and functions inside are carried out by gesture control.

The concept also features a host of new driving functions. The most notable is a Remote Control Drive function, which allows the driver to control the car from the outside at low speeds, either by a removable rotary controller or a smartphone app.

Other features include Laser Terrain Scanning (which maps the terrain ahead using lasers in the foglamps), Laser Referencing (which uses the car’s lasers to project images on to the road such as warning triangles) and a next-generation version of the Terrain Response system.

This system incorporates the ability to scan terrain ahead and prime the drive system accordingly, to see how deep a water obstacle is and advise if it’s passable, and low-speed autonomous driving off road.