Land Rover Discovery

Land Rover Plans Special Edition of Improved 1999 Discovery

DETROIT - Land Rover unveiled a special edition of the new Discovery Series II at the North American International Auto Show on Tuesday, modeled after the truck that will compete in the 1999 Land Rover TReK competition this summer. TReK is an inter-retailer challenge modeled after the annual Camel Trophy Adventure.

The truck features a bright orange and black paint job and many upgrades for serious off-road driving. BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires provide better grip off the pavement. Custom bumpers contain a winch up front and a class-three trailer hitch at the rear. Undercarriage armor protects vulnerable hardware beneath the Discovery, and buyers will also get rock sliders with integrated air tanks for tire pressure adjustments. Nine Hella driving lamps, three of which are of the high-intensity variety, light the way at night.

A full-length roof rack expands cargo capacity, and mounted on the back of the truck is a 48-inch high-lift jack. The conventional battery has been replaced with dry cell technology. Inside, two-ply supplex waterproof fabric covers the door panels and seats. Black rubber mats cover the floorboards.

These goodies complement the already extensive list of improvements made with the introduction of the Discovery Series II for 1999. The new Disco has more power and torque than before. The long-travel suspension is new, and there's a wider track. Optional is an Active Cornering Enhancement system that prevents body-roll in moderate turns on pavement. Discovery is the first sport-utility vehicle in the world to offer an active suspension.

A self-leveling rear suspension with air springs can be used to lift the back of the truck, giving the Discovery added departure angle clearance. Four-wheel disc antilock brakes with electronic brake distribution ensure smooth, steady stops under a variety of driving conditions. With permanent four-wheel drive, four-wheel traction control, Hill Descent Control and more wheel travel for 1999, the Discovery is one infallible off-road vehicle.

Inside, seats are wider and more comfortable. On the highway, the interior is quieter than before. Land Rover lengthened the Disco half a foot for 1999, making room for six more cubic feet of cargo as well as forward facing jump seats, which will be available starting this spring.

Don't expect the TReK version of the Discovery Series II to appear at the same time as the third-row jump seats. Production volume will be determined by interest gauged at the TReK event this summer, so the Discovery you see here will be available in August at the earliest.