Land Rover Discovery gets new V6 diesel, more safety tech

The new diesel engine gains additional 47bhp and 100Nm over the previous one thanks to twin-turbos. 

Land Rover has globally updated the Discovery with a new V6 diesel engine and more safety tech. These updates are not yet confirmed to arrive on the India-spec Discovery.

The new diesel powertrain in question is a 3.0-litre V6, badged SDV6, which produces 302bhp of max power and an 700Nm of peak torque. The engine is capable of powering the Discovery from 0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds. For comparison, the older TD6 engine on the Discovery churns out 255bhp and 600Nm.

As part of Land Rover’s continued engine technology developments, the SDV6 with twin-turbochargers features a revised intake system with twin intercoolers and an eight-nozzle injector design for optimised performance and efficiency.

Like most new vehicles from JLR, the new powertrain also comes equipped with particulate filters to make it cleaner. These filters are integrated into the after treatment system and trap soot as the exhaust gas passes through them. Under normal driving conditions, the trapped soot will be oxidised into CO2 and the filter regenerated whenever the driver lifts off the accelerator.

Coming to new safety features, the Discovery now gains Clear Exit Detection, which alerts the driver and passengers if vehicles, cyclists or other hazards are approaching from behind when exiting the vehicle. If an obstacle is detected, then a warning light will flash on the door alerting occupants.

Then, the adaptive cruise control includes Stop & Go function, which maintains the driver’s selected speed when safe, but also automatically adjusts it to maintain a predetermined distance from the vehicle in front. The technology can even smoothly stop the vehicle in heavy traffic and, if the traffic moves again within three seconds of stopping, automatically resume and follow the car in front.

Very recently, JLR also announced that it will move the production of the Discovery from Solihull (England) to Slovakia from next year.