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- 747_JK
- Member Since: 26 Jun 2018
- Location: England
- Posts: 499
What could a Discovery 6 be? I asked Co-Pilot...
Had 5 mins before dinner, so I asked Co-Pilot this:
The Land Rover Discovery 5 is nearing the end of its life. Land Rover has hinted that it might go more down an MPV-type route for the car, to differentiate it from Defender, but that would be a real shame for purists who want a true 4x4 car, with great off-road ability, and the ability to fit the whole family in, and a tonne of luggage, but who don't want to drive, or dislike the styling of, Defender. Can you propose what a next-generate Land Rover Discovery 6 could look like?
Copilot said:
I completely agree with your premise. The risk for JLR is that in trying to differentiate Discovery from Defender, they accidentally destroy what made Discovery special.
Recent reports suggest JLR is considering a more MPV-inspired direction for the next Discovery, focusing on family practicality and space rather than overlapping with Defender. Autocar has previously reported that JLR sees Discovery's future around concepts such as "family" and "space", with the brand potentially becoming a premium off-road MPV rather than a traditional SUV.
My view? The answer isn't to turn Discovery into a people carrier. It's to double down on being the world's best family 4x4.
Discovery 6: "The Family Expedition Vehicle"
Think of it as:
Range Rover practicality + Defender capability + Discovery versatility
Rather than:
Defender softened into an MPV
- Exterior Design
Return to Discovery roots
Take inspiration from Discovery 3 and 4.
- More upright, architectural shape
Vast glasshouse
Proper command driving position
Near-vertical tailgate
Retain the asymmetric rear number plate recess
Alpine roof styling cue
The current Discovery 5 became too sleek and Range Rover-like.
Discovery 6 should look:
✅ purposeful
✅ honest
✅ practical
rather than fashionable.
Key dimensions
- Slightly longer than current Discovery
Squarer rear end
Taller roofline
Short front overhang
Slightly narrower than Defender 130
Result:
- Better visibility
More luggage volume
Better third-row accommodation
Off-Road Capability
This is where Discovery must remain a Land Rover.
Targets
- 300mm+ ground clearance
Air suspension standard
Twin-speed transfer box
Locking centre differential
Optional rear locker
900mm wading depth
Essentially:
95% of Defender capability
but in a more family-friendly package.
Nobody wants a Discovery that loses off-road credibility.
Interior Philosophy
This is where the MPV influence should appear.
Not externally.
Internally.
Discovery 6 cabin
Think airline lounge rather than rugged farm vehicle.
Features:
- Seven genuinely adult-sized seats
Sliding second row
Removable centre console
Huge storage bins
Flat-fold rear seating
No Defender-style exposed bolts.
No fashion-led gimmicks.
Just usability.
The "Boot of Legend"
This should be the engineering brief.
Make it the best boot of any SUV on sale.
Targets
- Over 1,000 litres behind row two
Over 400 litres behind row three
Flat loading floor
Split tailgate returns
The old Discovery split tailgate was brilliant.
Bring it back.
Perfect for:
- dog owners
football parents
camping
shooting/fishing
family holidays
Exactly the customers Defender doesn't cater for particularly well.
Powertrains
I'd offer three
D350 diesel
Still hugely relevant for towing.
PHEV
60 to 80 miles electric range.
EV
Around 400 miles real-world range.
Discovery buyers are often towing horseboxes, trailers, caravans and boats.
A diesel option still makes sense for some markets.
A Clever Discovery Feature
Every Land Rover should have a unique party piece.
For Discovery:
"Activity Mode"
The vehicle automatically configures for:
- family holiday
dog transport
camping
football team transport
towing
Examples:
Football mode:
- boot lighting activated
wet gear storage
rear climate prioritised
seat configuration optimised
A very Discovery feature.
Styling
Imagine a blend of:
- Discovery 4
New Range Rover
Ineos Grenadier
original Discovery Vision concept
The front would have:
- slim LED lamps
upright nose
clean grille
The side:
- slab-sided
huge glass area
floating roof
The rear:
- vertical tailgate
asymmetrical Discovery design cue
no excessive lighting gimmicks
A vehicle that looks like it could drive from Kensington to Kenya without modification.
The One-Line Pitch
If I were JLR, I'd position it as:
"The world's most capable family vehicle."
Not an MPV.
Not a luxury SUV.
Not a Defender alternative.
A vehicle for people who need:
- seven seats,
serious luggage space,
genuine towing ability,
genuine off-road capability,
and a more civilised, less macho alternative to Defender.
That's the Discovery niche that nobody else currently occupies, and I'd argue it's a far stronger proposition than turning it into a premium people carrier.
MY23.5 D5 3.0 MHEV Metropolitan Edition – Santorini Black – Ebony Windsor Leather – 21” Style 5025 gloss black wheels – 21” full size spare tyre – Black roof rails – Black side mouldings - Williams Ceramic Coat. [Gone: D5 HSE @ 50,795miles: (now LH68 BYW)] -
- Mole HD
- Member Since: 19 Nov 2024
- Location: Orkney Islands
- Posts: 898
I kinda like that, not too keen on the front but the rest and especially with the split tailgate...8/10.
Would I buy one? Probably not. If I really wanted to replace or supplement the Bling Barge for any random reason, I'd lay down the cash for another non DPF 2015 Euro 5 compliant Disco 4 without any hesitation....then I'd blank off the EGR and fit a stainless cat and centre box delete exhaust like I did on my old one.
Helps that we're MOT exempt on the island.
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- bammmy
- Member Since: 29 Jul 2018
- Location: The Scottish Highlands.
- Posts: 152
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- Wolfpack
- Member Since: 25 May 2019
- Location: Norfolk, UK
- Posts: 582
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Mole HD wrote:
I kinda like that, not too keen on the front but the rest and especially with the split tailgate...8/10.
Would I buy one? Probably not. If I really wanted to replace or supplement the Bling Barge for any random reason, I'd lay down the cash for another non DPF 2015 Euro 5 compliant Disco 4 without any hesitation....then I'd blank off the EGR and fit a stainless cat and centre box delete exhaust like I did on my old one.
Helps that we're MOT exempt on the island.
How does that work if you take a ferry to mainland for a visit? -
- Mole HD
- Member Since: 19 Nov 2024
- Location: Orkney Islands
- Posts: 898
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I'd just take the Bling Barge, it's with me until either one of us rots into the ground I'm afraid.
The replacement Disco 4, or indeed a new Disco 6 or whatever they decide to call it, was purely hypothetical...at my age, I've no need to be changing cars for the newest thing every 3 or 4 years. I have a tendency to look at life through rose coloured glasses back to a world without DPF's, EGR's and electric cars to make my life difficult when I get the spanners out.
I loved my Disco 4...loved the couple of Disco 2's I had before that too, but they're a bit like me, slightly prehistoric and built for times far less complicated.
It's why I like living up here, it's an archaic way of life that has almost vanished on mainland UK...zero crime, nobody locks anything, the 500 or so of us who live here all know each other and we still catch up on the gossip at the local shop.
Nobody cares what time of day it is, we're never in that much of a hurry that we're tied to a clock, we don't automatically pull out a mobile phone in public places in order to avoid eye contact or conversation, just in case we miss a friendly smile and a chance to chat and pass the time of day...we don't have or need a local copper and we know the postie and the bin man by their first names.
Sounds nice, doesn't it? It always does until the realisation sets in that the winters last for 9 months and it takes an entire day and 2 ferries (if you can book a space for your car) just to pop into Tesco.
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- Wolfpack
- Member Since: 25 May 2019
- Location: Norfolk, UK
- Posts: 582
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- Mole HD
- Member Since: 19 Nov 2024
- Location: Orkney Islands
- Posts: 898
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- Wolfpack
- Member Since: 25 May 2019
- Location: Norfolk, UK
- Posts: 582
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- Mole HD
- Member Since: 19 Nov 2024
- Location: Orkney Islands
- Posts: 898
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Folk who live on the main island usually advertise cars that have failed MOT's or end up with 'more than the car is worth' repair bills for dirt cheap on the local Orkney Merkat place on Facebook and the like for those of us on the outer islands...
At the cost of few hundred quid for sometimes, what could be a half decent car that they can't realistically sell on Mainland without paying to have it repaired, they'll stick them on the ferry to come out here until they die.
My son picked up his MOT failure 2014 BMW X3 for £450 (including the cost of sticking it on the ferry), we fitted some new lower wishbones, one wheel bearing and a full set of disks and pads on it then had it MOT'd.
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