Winner of 62 International awards since launch in 2009
Wider choice of colour combinations including five new body colours
Extended Leather Pack inspired by HSE Luxury Limited Edition now available as option
Navigation system fitted with premium features including 4x4i

September 27, 2012 – 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.

Customers also now have a choice of five additional body colours and two new interior colours and trim enhancements, offering customers an even greater opportunity to personalise their car.

The infotainment system has been upgraded, whilst the navigation system now comes with premium features such as Off-Road guidance and 4x4i.

The outstanding 180kW 3.0-litre LR-SDV6 diesel engine has been upgraded to 183kW and now features the ZF 8HP70 8-speed automatic transmission, producing CO₂ emissions of just 230g/km, whilst the 276kW 5.0-litre LR-V8 naturally aspirated petrol engine is powered with the ultra-refined ZF 6HP28 6-speed automatic transmission.

“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. For 2013, the breadth of choice gets better, with equipment upgrades and wider choice 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,” said John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director.

Extended Leather Pack

In response to customer demand for a more luxurious interior, the Extended Leather Pack is being introduced as a new interior option to the HSE derivatives for 2013 model year when Windsor leather seats are fitted. The Pack includes premium soft (Windsor) leather with twin-stitch detailing to the top of the facia and doors and also around the instrument binnacle.

New exterior & interior colours

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. The HSE derivative also offers a new, 19-inch 7-spoke alloy wheel in Bright Silver finish.

There’s broader customer 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.

Premium navigation features

Since the Discovery 3, there has been a choice of Base or Premium Navigation systems. From 2013 model year, only the Premium system will be available and, where fitted, will offer features such as 4x4i (displays vehicle status for example, wheel articulation graphics), Voice and Off-Road guidance. The Points Of Interest (POI) function has been extended to include a ‘My POI’ category and POIs can now be uploaded from USB stick in ‘GPX’ format. POIs can also be downloaded from the Internet and personalised with name, icon and audible warnings.

A new function, Avoid Points, can be accessed from Stored Locations and used during route planning. The interface has been streamlined with more shortcuts to make setting of the destination easier and faster. For example, a ‘GO’ button replaces a list when there’s only one destination available and also eases the setting of everyday Points of Interest.

In the navigation display, motorway overhead signs are displayed in split screen junction view to show a more representative display of lane and road signs ahead. There’s also a new Map Auto Zoom function which, when enabled, automatically zooms in on intersections or motorway junctions as they are approached.

Infotainment system enhanced

For 2012, the audio system electrical architecture was upgraded to the latest MOST Gen 2.1. This system has now evolved, the entry level audio is an 8-speaker system with colour display, Bluetooth and USB/iPod connectivity as Standard on the S derivative; the High-line Harman Kardon System has 11-speakers and an output of 380w (Standard on SE derivatives), whilst the Premium Harman Kardon LOGIC 7 system has 17 speakers and delivers an amazing 825w and is Standard on HSE derivatives.

A touch screen is available independently of the navigation system and the phonebook stores several thousand entries, whilst the TFT Message Centre interface displays audio, phone and navigational information.

Efficient, powerful and refined 3.0-litre diesel engine

The tremendously responsive 183kW 3.0-litre sequential turbo diesel engine only produces 230g/km.  This diesel engine is equipped with the parallel sequential turbocharging system and third generation common rail fuel injection system. Throttle response is staggering with maximum torque available from only 2,000rpm. The engine can significantly 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.

ZF 8HP70 automatic gearbox

The remarkable ZF 8HP70 transmission delivers unrivalled response for driving pleasure 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 CO₂emissions. 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 offers performance benefits too. Taking just 200 milliseconds to complete the entire shift event, the 8HP70 gears change with an imperceptible interruption of torque for smoothness equalling that of a dual-clutch transmission, while providing a more sophisticated driving experience. The 8HP70 matches the engine speed to its turbine speed in anticipation of oncoming downshifts for an absolutely 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.

Advanced V8 engine combines high performance with efficiency

The astonishing 5.0 LR-V8 naturally aspirated engine is a lightweight aluminium alloy engine which is super-efficient.  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 percent 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 exceptional 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.

Superb 6-speed automatic transmission

The LR-V8 drives through the ultra-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 superior 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.

On- and off-road breadth of capability

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.

e_TERRAIN TECHNOLOGIES boost economy and lower CO₂ emissions

The new Discovery 4 is packed with features aimed at reducing fuel consumption and reducing CO₂ emissions. The 183kW 3.0 Sequential Turbo Diesel engine is designed to deliver class-leading fuel economy and improved low-end torque.

The parallel sequential turbocharging system of the 3.0-litre diesel makes use of its larger, primary turbo most of the time. The smaller secondary turbo remains dormant when higher power is not required, reducing pumping losses and consequently, fuel consumption. The highly efficient, third generation common rail injection system with piezo injectors and fuel metering, also makes a substantial contribution to fuel economy.

The LR-V8’s high pressure, spray guided direct injection system optimises combustion while the variable camshaft timing system, camshaft profile switching and variable inlet manifold all join forces to ensure the engine is optimised for fuel efficiency throughout the range. Thanks to the advanced cooling system, faster warm-up also improves fuel economy as do the low friction design features.

Engines have also been optimised for low-end torque as well as economy, making it possible to activate the lock-up clutch of the automatic transmissions at lower speed. This reduces ‘slip’ in the hydraulic torque converter improving both fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. The higher torque at lower rpm also enables longer gearing for more economical cruising.

The Discovery incorporates several other energy saving features too. At standstill, the idle speed of the 3.0 LR-SDV6 is a low 710rpm and the LR-V8, 600rpm, 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.

e_TERRAIN TECHNOLOGIES in summary:

• Cutting edge LR-V8 engine technology
• New ZF 8HP70 8-speed automatic improves efficiency and reduces CO₂
• Engine calibration optimised
• Low engine idle speeds
• Reduced torque-converter slip
• Higher torque, allowing longer gearing
• Intelligent Power System Management (IPSM) including smart regenerative charging
• Clutched air conditioning pump to reduce parasitic losses
• Optimised aerodynamics

2013 DISCOVERY 4 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

All information and data is based on manufacturer’s estimate and varies by market.