Land Rover Discovery.

Discovery II

1998, September: The Land Rover Discovery II, code-name Tempest, got its UK press launch. It is a little bigger with either the 4.0 litre petrol V8 (182hp) or a 5-cylinder turbo-charged and 101kW (135hp) intercooled diesel. Interestingly the diesel is reported to be still 2.5 litre, like the 200/300-series 4-cyl. Range Rover goodies include traction control, ABS, and self-levelling air-bag suspension. It will be on sale in the UK in late 1998. One must wonder if the stylists have done the right thing by making the new car resemble the old one quite so strongly.

See 2001, 1999, 1998, commercial - 4wd.sofcom.com/LandRover/Discovery.html

Discovery I

The Land Rover Discovery was released in the U.K. in October 1989 to fill the widening gap between the luxurious Range Rover and the utilitarian Land Rover Defenders. It gained four doors, a diesel engine option and moved more upmarket but remains otherwise substantially unchanged to the present day.

1997 saw Rover Australia bring in a back-to-basics model, the Discovery S, with steel wheels and without central locking, ABS brakes or air bags. This could be just the thing for the enthusiastic four wheel driver, or for the farmer in the bush. The top SE7 model and the limited edition Rossignol get all the goodies.

The Discovery got its make-over, code-name Tempest in 1998.

See the 1997, NAS, 1996, 1995, Camel Trophy, Discovery commercial (panel van) and Land Rover (main) pages