Land Rover announces MY13 Discovery 4

Land Rover will introduce its upgraded Disco 4 for the 2013 model year from January. Key points of the new model year upgrade include a detuned version of the 3.0-litre diesel V6 in lieu of the current 2.7-litre diesel engine, and ZF's new eight-speed automatic for the V6 variants.

In addition, Land Rover will launch the upgraded Discovery with new colour combinations – comprising five new colours – an enhanced audio system and new interior trim materials and colours. New option packs include an extended leather pack and Black Design packs that can be ordered with a choice of 19 or 20-inch alloy wheels finished in black. 

"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," said John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director, as quoted in a press release. "For 2013, the breadth of choice gets better, with equipment upgrades and our new Black Design Packs 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."

Land Rover has dropped the 2.7-litre turbodiesel V6 for the new model year, its place taken by a detuned version of the 3.0-litre V6. The existing engine continues, developing 183kW and 600Nm, and is joined by the 155kW version that produces 520Nm. Both engines produce peak torque from as low as 2000rpm and the 155kW version emits fewer grams of CO2 than the smaller engine it supplants – 224g/km versus 244g/km for the older V6. The 183kW engine also discharges lower CO2 emissions than the old 2.7 – 230g/km. 

Land Rover has adopted the ZF eight-speed automatic (coded 8HP70) for the diesel V6 applications, dropping the six-speed ZF box, which does carry on as the 6HP28 matched to the 5.0-litre petrol V8. A more efficient transmission, the 8HP70 features closer ratios, but a higher top gear for relaxed freeway cruising. The gear cluster aids fuel economy, as do an improved hydraulic pump, a torque converter that locks up at lower speeds and/or operating temperatures, and a revised mechanical layout that the manufacturer claims requires only two internal clutches open simultaneously. Neutral is selected when the car is stationary and automatically runs the engine in lower gears (at higher engine speeds) in hotter conditions to improve airflow and output from the climate control system, or in colder conditions to hasten the warm-up of the engine to reduce emissions and fuel use. An adaptive unit, the ZF 8HP70 monitors driver input and holds gears in corners and bends. Shifting takes place within 200 milliseconds and the transmission does not need to change sequentially; it can skip up to six gears if necessary.