Land Rover Discovery

Land Rover Discovery

Land Rover redesigned its lower-priced model for 1999, giving it a Series II designation. Appearance did not change appreciably, but the new model was claimed to be 85 percent new. It was the first revamp since the Discovery's debut in 1994. Overall length grew by 6.5 inches and width by nearly 4 inches, but the wheelbase was unchanged. Only a single version of the four-door midsize SUV was offered, with several class "firsts." Although styling remained familiar, the Discovery had more rounded contours and a taller windshield. A newly designed dashboard went inside, along with softer and larger front seats. Equipped with permanent four-wheel drive and standard five-passenger seating, the Discovery II held a 4.0-liter V8 engine and four-speed automatic transmission. Engine output rose by 6 hp and torque by 18 lb-ft, compared to the prior model. If optional 3rd-row seating was requested, the jump seats now faced forward instead of inward. Cargo space behind the middle bench went up by a claimed 15.5 cu ft. Cloth upholstery was standard, with leather optional. Automatic dual-zone climate control also was standard. Antilocking all-disc brakes and 16-inch wheels were standard. The 4WD system had separate low-range gearing and electronic traction control that braked individual wheels as needed to limit spin in severe conditions and restore lost grip. Standard Hill Descent Control automatically applied brakes to limit speed when descending steep grades in Low range. An optional Active Cornering Enhancement (ACE) system replaced the usual antiroll bars with hydraulic rams, to reduce body lean in hard turns. A self-leveling suspension also was available. At this time, the Land Rover organization was a subsidiary of BMW. Rivals to the Discovery included the Ford Explorer, Acura MDX, Lexus RX 300, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, and Infiniti QX4.