By Theodore Opara
BEFORE now, I have had reservations about the Land Rover Discovery. But my recent test-drive of the Discovery 4 in Johannesburg, South Africa changed my long held view about the car. The Land Rover Discovery One Million production media launch in South Africa recently was an extra ordinary experience and revelation of the Sport Utility Vehicle capability.

Motoring journalists from the Sub-Saharan African had gathered at Kloofzicht Lodge, the take off point for the test drive of one of the most decorated SUV ever – the Land Rover Discovery.

*Land rover

This event was not just an ordinary one but an opportunity to celebrate the attainment of one million production of the Discovery range in February. To Jaguar Land Rover Group, this figure for a premium sport utility vehicle calls for rolling out the drums and letting the world know of the exploits of the car.

But rather than making noise over the achievements, Land Rover decided to use the millionth Discovery to raise fund for a Red cross project in Uganda. The fund will be donated for a water sanitation plant in the East African country. The Motoring Press was also invited to test-drive the latest Discovery 4 to appreciate the level of technology behind the car.

In company of my Guardian newspaper colleague, Yetunde Ebosele, whom I shared a car with, and Driving Instructor, Sean Michael we explored the on-road, and off road capabilities of the Land Rover Discovery 4. The experience is unforgettable. The Land Rover Discovery 4 was at home at both terrains.

On-road, I hit 180km/h and Discovery remained quite stable as it gathers speed. It had the comfort and roadholding of Sport Sedan. The luxury is first class just like the ride.

The off road capability of the Discovery 4 is better experienced. It can climb mountains with ease and take rough terrains in its stride. The technology in the Discovery seems to be quite ahead of its time. With traction on just two wheels you can overcome any terrain. No wonder the Discovery 4 had remained crowned the world’s ‘Most Capable all-purpose vehicle’, having won 36 awards since its launch in 2009.

Discovery 4 is available in 3.0 V6 diesel engines and 5.0 litre V8 engine. The diesel engine version derives its class-leading performance from the parallel sequential turbo charging system. It has set new standards in refinement and fuel economy since its introduction in 2010 model year with its third generation common rail fuel injection system. Operating at 2,000 bar, the Piezo injectors are designed to minimise noise while optimising combustion.

The top of the range version, produces 276kw and 510Nm. One of the secrets of this engine’s outstanding performance is the centrally-mounted, multi-hole, spray-guide fuel injection system which delivers fuel at a pressure of up to 2175psi directly to each cylinders.

According to Murray  Dietsch, Director of Land  Rover Programmes,  “The Land Rover – V8 engine continues to justify its position as one of the finest engines in its class having set new standards for efficiency, power and torque that remain hard to beat. The combination of advanced technology and lightweight make it ideal powerunit, complementing the Discovery 4’s off-road and on-road capability.”

Discovery 4 is equipped with Super 6-Speed automatic trans mission to provide class-leading response with rapid and refined shifts. Coupled with this is an advanced chassis, suspension and brakes.

The  car’s off-road ability has been further raised with the addition of Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control, while the entertainment and audio systems had moved up to another level. A new entry 8-Speaker system with colour display had replaced the previous system with black and white display.

The entry level system now has options for bluetooth and USB/ipod connectivity. The Hi-ICE harman/Kardon system has been upgraded from 9 to 11 Speakers and the output from 240kw to 380kw. However the premium harman/kardon logic 7 system has seen the most dramatic improvement from 14 to 17 speakers and increase in output from 480kw to amazing 825kw.

The Land Rover Discovery boasts of one of t the most flexible interiors you could find in today’s automobiles. The seats could be adjusted to accommodate passengers and luggages as needs arose. This seven-seater SUV has raised driving comfort to the next level in all ramifications.

According to Nigel Clarke, Jaguar Land Rover Operations Director, Sub-Sahara Africa, “Discovery 4 has evolved as a family vehicles as majority of people that buy it are families.”   My verdict on the Discovery: It is one of the best cars I have ever test driven. It has amazing power, comfort as well as on-road and off road capability.