Controversy Regarding Ford's Involvement Building the New Disco Abounds
If Land Rover's Discovery has always seemed a bit too utilitarian for you, your perceptions might change after you catch sight of the all-new 2005 Series III.
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| The new 2005 Series III Land Rover Discovery should be a lot less utilitarian than its predicesors, albeit this photo is not official. |
If these photos are anything to go by, as it's not official, the new sport utility will be bold for sure, and much more modern than the outgoing Series II that has served its company well.
Rumors run rampant regarding the new SUV, with the most controversial regarding the adoption of a completely new chassis architecture. Reports of a modified Ford Explorer platform underpinning the upscale sport utility are the most disconcerting to Land Rover disciples, mostly because the Explorer is not revered for its off-road capability and the Discovery's unique placement in the marketplace relies upon its rock crawling nature.
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| The next-generation Discovery is rumored to feature the stiffest chassis in its class. |
It seems Land Rover wants to target BMW's X5 in sales, a worthy goal, but most likely Volkswagen's Touareg when it comes to performance both on and off the road. The latter is wonderfully nimble on pavement, yet amazingly capable no matter the terrain.
Industry insiders comment that the next-generation Disco, as it is lovingly referred to by LR loyalists, will feature the stiffest chassis in its class. The new design incorporates hydroformed high-strength steel (HSS) tubes, which should translate into improved handling and much better crash tests.