2015 the new discovery

[danrhiggins]

You can fit 24" rims under the current model Sport or Range Rover if you try hard enough (and find rubber band tires to match), so I don't know how telling it is that the concepts sports 23" alloys. Concepts always wear humongous rims for effect.

The tech does sound pretty amazing, and if 50% of it makes it on the final model (and it works...), that would catapult Land Rover from also-ran to the forefront of automotive technology. I mean, a remote controlled car? Unreal. Could I just send the car to pick up my kids from school and stay home?

I like the idea of the rear suicide doors as I imagine it would make access to the rear seats easier. But, just like the big rims, those doors usually appear on concept cars and disappear from production vehicles. Don't know why. We'll see!

These things do come from the country that brought us James Bond and Harrier jump jets. Maybe we can use the lasers to simply eliminate obstacles. And maybe those 23" wheels will retract so we can go under water. Or maybe turn into turbofans so we can float over water or obstacles. (Brings a whole new meaning to air suspension.)

 

[epiclr4]

The tech does sound pretty amazing, and if 50% of it makes it on the final model (and it works...)

And it works would be the real treat as mine still doesn't have working A/C!

I think after reading the same article you posted Umbertob I wish I was in NYC to check this thing out myself. I have not seen anyone post any pictures of it from real life other than the blogs with it on stage.

Some of the items per Dan do sound interesting and might be neat items to have. Again, I just want it to work from the factory.....

 

[danrhiggins]

How hard can it be to get the AC working? Its not like it is bleeding edge technology! What exactly is wrong? (OK, maybe not a topic for this thread.)

 

[mbw]

I am glad to see that 99% of people on facebook hate it. I dont think its a bad looking vehicle, but its not a Land Rover looking vehicle.

I really hate that they are trying to just be a fancy version of all the crap on the market already.

Just from a pure functionality perspective, fold flat seats? Squared off interior? Clamshell hood? Large windows and good visibility?

My 2013 LR4 might truly be one of the last great Land Rovers in my opinion. Square, functional, V8. Its already got more gadgets than I really want on it... ****.

 

[spizzi]

Mixed feelings about this. Definitely do not like the exterior look for two reasons: 1. Looks like another derivation of a Ford Explorer. 2. I played the game of looking closely to identify the differences between this new Disco and the current gen Range Rovers. IMO the Discovery/LR iconic "design" is now gone. Really like the interior but then again I like shiny things

Again, I would be the first to admit I have buyers remorse but I am still very glad I pulled the trigger on a new 2013 with the 8 cyl 5.0. I love it and can take it through the first couple model years of the new Disco or new Range Rovers to get the bugs worked out.

 

[epiclr4]

How hard can it be to get the AC working? Its not like it is bleeding edge technology! What exactly is wrong? (OK, maybe not a topic for this thread.)

Yea, let's not derail. Ultimately my truck never had working AC and based on the date I was quoted yesterday it will be in the shop for 3 weeks before it will hopefully be fixed.

 

[gamh2001]

Mixed feelings about this. Definitely do not like the exterior look for two reasons: 1. Looks like another derivation of a Ford Explorer. 2. I played the game of looking closely to identify the differences between this new Disco and the current gen Range Rovers. IMO the Discovery/LR iconic "design" is now gone. Really like the interior but then again I like shiny things

Again, I would be the first to admit I have buyers remorse but I am still very glad I pulled the trigger on a new 2013 with the 8 cyl 5.0. I love it and can take it through the first couple model years of the new Disco or new Range Rovers to get the bugs worked out.

I fully agree with the "another derivation of a Ford Explorer". A lot better but when a vehicle design reminds you of another brand, may be it's me but somehow I feel LR lost its brand design distinction. And now this is a "leisure" vehicle? Common! But let's not lose hope. I really like the tech involved though but the interior looks cramped and full of bells and whistles. I love the simplicity (although a tad confusing at times) of the current design. I will wait as we get closer to a production model. I look forward for LR evolving on the current design and not copying on Ford. For now my 2012 LR4 is a keeper.

 

[umbertob]

Here is more about the concept's new technology (frickin' laser headlamps and next gen Terrain Response), impressive stuff indeed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcN8J3gW6kI

 

[danrhiggins]

So I currently drive a 2014 Acura MDX where they aggressively eliminate physical buttons in favor of a touch screen. In fact, they have two displays - one is a touch screen. I find it very confusing and very frustrating to not have the tactile feedback of buttons for common actions while driving. It is hard to know, without looking, whether I need to press 1" up from the bottom and 2" in to get the radio to move to another station, etc. And it is very confusing and inconsistent. Some of this is simply bad UI design and will be fixed in the future. Some of it is due to the fact that some models have Nav, some don't and therefore don't have the upper display. Some have Sat, some don't.

The OLED controls on the steering wheel may help. Or maybe not because, again, there is a lack of tactile feedback.

The "gestures" interface may work. Or it may be a problem if you have a passenger who uses their hands a lot when they talk. Or if you go to scratch your nose and the hood goes transparent. ;-)

I guess that's why the call it a "concept" vehicle. I can just see someone standing outside their car in freezing rain waving and "gesturing" at their car which is not responding because of some bug in the software or the hardware. I can imagine some of the "gestures".

 

[umbertob]

... And a time lapse video showing how they built the concept.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V28gpsoWgSU&feature=player_detailpage