Spy photographers have snapped the
facelifted Land Rover Discovery on multiple occasions, but now we’re getting a
glimpse inside the cabin. While still in the early stages of development, this
prototype has been equipped with a new steering wheel that appears similar to
the one used in the Defender. However, there are some minor changes including
‘closed’ spokes and a “Discovery” badge on the horn.
The center stack has also been revamped
and features a significantly larger touchscreen infotainment system. The width
doesn’t appear to change much, but the display is much taller than before.
Beneath the touchscreen is an updated climate control panel with new
switchgear. While we can only get a glimpse of it, we can see updated climate
control knobs with a digital display and rubberized or knurled grips.
Additional changes are limited, but the
center console is camouflaged and this suggests it could see some changes as
well. The model is also expected to adopt a digital instrument cluster, but
unfortunately it’s blocked from view. That being said, the dashboard and door
panels will largely carryover.
The exterior appears to carryover as well
but, since this is an early prototype, we can expect changes as development
progresses. While nothing is official, we’re expecting the usual mid-cycle
updates including new bumpers, revised lighting units and restyled wheels.
The engine lineup could also see come
changes as speculation has suggested there could be mild-hybrid and plug-in
hybrid variants. The mild-hybrid powertrain will presumably be shared with the
Range Rover Sport which has a supercharged and turbocharged 3.0-liter
six-cylinder engine as well as an enhanced start/stop system. In the US-spec
model, the powertrain has outputs of 355 hp and 495 Nm of torque as well as 395 hp and 550 Nm of torque.
