New Land Rover Discovery teased

Land Rover reveals its “space-age” Discovery Vision Concept SUV.

The Vision Concept, on show at the New York Auto Show, previews the next production Land Rover Discovery due to be launched in 2015.

Bearing a strong family resemblance to its siblings, the Evoque, Range Rover Sport and luxury Range Rover, the concept is “a vision of Land Rover’s future family of Discovery vehicles”.

The Discovery Vision Concept was unveiled alongside a scale model of the Virgin Galactic spacecraft to mark the announcement of a new long-term global partnership with Richard Branson’s pioneering commercial space service.

The Discovery Vision Concept offers a window into the advanced research projects which are underway at Jaguar Land Rover.

Its features will include:

• Next-generation Human-Machine Interface (HMI) technology creating a “rich and truly immersive multimedia experience for all occupants” including video calls between passengers through the seatback infotainment screens,
• The doors, indicators, headlamps and seatback screens, can be operated by Gesture Control
• Remote Control Drive enables the driver to manoeuvre the car at very low speed while not actually seated inside it.
• The innovative Transparent Bonnet head-up display system offers an unimpeded view of the ground immediately ahead by virtually recreating the landscape which would otherwise be hidden by the front of the car

Finally, the advanced interior is both spacious and versatile with reconfigurable seating. For instance, the seats are able to fold flat or slide forwards or backwards, via the touchscreen menu.

It can also be converted from its standard seven-seat layout to a six-seat, five-seat or even a four-seat ‘limousine’ mode.