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First Official Photos of 2017 Land Rover Discovery 5 Reveal Exterior Design

When Land Rover had introduced the Discovery 1 in 1989, the mid-size SUV came in the form of a no-frills take on the Range Rover, with the pricing aimed at a large market segment. The Land Rover Discovery 5, however, differs from all of its foregoers.
2017 Land Rover Discovery 5 53 photos
Photo: Land Rover
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After one too many spy photographs of the Disco 5, the peeps over at Jaguar Land Rover had decided to show us what’s under the swirly camouflage. And so, the first official photos of the 2017 Land Rover Discovery found themselves uploaded on this great invention we call the Internet.

Other than the plasticky front apron, the all-new Disco looks more sophisticated than its entire lineage, but it doesn’t step away from the unmistakable design of the Discovery family. In a way, it’s the better take on the lesser Discovery Sport, especially those vertical air intakes and the headlight assemblies. Do not, however, think that the Disco has grown soft.

For the third generation of the mid-size SUV, Land Rover went for a stepped roofline. In addition to that visual trait, this is still a seven-seat SUV created with capability in mind. As per Land Rover chief design officer Gerry McGovern, the “Discovery redefines the large SUV. Land Rover’s design and engineering teams have revolutionized the Discovery DNA to create a highly desirable, extremely versatile and hugely capable premium SUV.”

2017 Land Rover Discovery 5 official photograph
Photo: Land Rover
What Gerry actually wants to tell you is that the Disco will be considerably lighter than the current model thanks to the PLA (Premium Lightweight Architecture). Despite it going unibody, the Discovery will hold its own when the going gets rough thanks to seriously competent off-road tech.

But there’s a downside as well. What purists won’t like about the 2017 Land Rover Discovery is the advent of the Ingenium 2.0-liter turbo diesel. Yup, a four-pot under the hood of an SUV this size is a bit uncanny. Nevertheless, 240 PS (237 hp) and 500 Nm (367 lb-ft) should be enough to do the job.

Expect Land Rover to unveil the Discovery 5 late this month, during the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Production is said to commence by the end of 2016, with European deliveries slated or the first quarter of 2017. In the U.S., the LR4 will make way for the Discovery in the third quarter of 2017.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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