All-new Discovery Sport has stormed Nigeria with style and aggression. For its rivals, is there any cause for alarm? Motoring World’s editor-in-chief, FEMI OWOEYE, who witnessed its official presentation to the motoring press last Thursday, digs for an answer..
The Phoenix has risen from the ashes to blind us with her beauty. The setting was magical. Coscharis Motors’ termed it unveiling of the 2015 Landrover Discovery Sport. But was the machine unveiled? No. Of course other Landrover models were veiled on the ground like brides about to partake in Roman Catholic mass wedding. Venue was The Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
Timing was right. Since take off time was 6pm, I knew I was going to drive against the traffic. For 48 hours, my Landrover Freelander had not been able to go out, due to fuel scarcity.
“Common boy“, I told him. “A member of your family is to be unveiled tonight. We’ve got to be there.”
Courtesy of black marketers at Mobil Station along Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, I got 15-litres of fuel discharged into Mr Freelander’s tank. The journey from Ikeja to Victoria Island took about 30 minutes. When we arrived, the Landrover Discovery was nowhere to be found. But I found fellow motoring journalists I had not seen for a decade. Sweet reunion it was with Tosan, Theodor and Moses of Trendy, Vanguard and The Sun respectively.
As music played on and guests wined, dined and exchanged pleasantries, later arrival or appearance of the much awaited Discovery told a story:
It was about a car that was freely born almost two decades ago to the Landrover family. Its name was Freelander, a car which lived a successful life, conquered the road and jungles and died. Or how do w describe it. It is to breed no more. Landrover company had enough of it.
But this day was a Thursday. Bright and sunny day it was. Time was after the sun had gone down. Guests and men of pen were to witness an unfolding history of an icon, which died, but was ready to rise, as a different 
personality.
After preceding speeches and intros, attention was focused on the podium. As if volcanic eruption was taking place, smoke oozed out, filling up the podium. Amidst the silvery smoke, something was rising from below. Yes, it rose till levelled with the podium. Audience could not but clapped. It was the new Landrover Discovery Sport. Beautiful, bold beast of a car, it turned around. As if getting ready for a fight and knock-out victory, it danced to the Music theme from “The good, the bad and the ugly” by Ennio Morricone.
As the music built up to its crescendo, Discovery turned round in a manner likened to bullying dance that normally precedes a heavy weight wrestling championship. Mark you; its rivals include Audi Q5, Hyundai Santa Fe and Volvo XC60.
Discovery continued its slow spinning, showing off its aerodynamic body. Yes, its backside, proudly lifted up in the manner of a peacock’s. It seems to be saying, “Don’t try me at he jungle“! When it eventually faced my direction, I was attracted by its headlamps, which are liken to the eyes of a dinosaur and its grill like clenched teeth of a Whale. What a combination!
At that point, I soliloquized: “Welcome back. Our beloved Freelander, who died, went into a world unknown, learnt more wisdom, gained more strength and became cleverer and smatter. It has risen. O yes, it has rising, born again with the DNA of the Discovery. Welcome back, oh yee strong and clever Landrover Discovery Sports; a car with new tricks and capabilities.”
Styling
This time around, it is not Discovery as usual. Not a boxy one, but a metal that has discovered beauty. Designed to be the most versatile car in its sector and still retain premium quality, the new Discovery Sport is 9cm longer than the Freelander, at 459cm, 7cm of which has been used to make the middle row of seats truly spacious. Its fairly aerodynamic shape should enhance performance and fuel economy.
Its body-shell is largely shared with the Range Rover Range Evoque, while the space-efficient suspension design is said to give controlled on-and off-road ride and handling benefits as well as freeing up space for the rearmost seats, boot, and a space saver spare wheel.
New tricks
Well, narrators told the audience many things, which I have no reason to doubt, though I filled in a form to do a test-drive. The car’s off-road ability is said to have been optimized. There was highlight of its 60cm wade depth and the four settings of its Terrain response system: general, grass/gravel/snow, mud and ruts and sand. The car is said to be capable of wading through 600mm of water and hauls its way up one-in-one slopes. Other standard off-road aids available include hill descent control, roll stability control, dynamic stability control, traction control and engine drag torque control.
Its steering, I was told, is electrically power assisted, reducing fuel consumption and allowing the introduction of an option for a self-parking function where the car steers itself into a parallel parking space or parking bay.
Interior
I checked its interior. And I can confirm for sure that its seating arrangement is 5+2 rather than a full seven-seater, because the rearmost seats are for occasional use only; especially for children or an adult, if travelling a short distance. As standard the middle row of seats can be reclined, slide back and forward by 16cm, and can be split 60:40. They are also 5cm higher than the front seats, to give passengers a better view.
Climate control for the front two rows of seats is standard. Buyers can specify air-conditioner for the rearmost seats, as well as additional 12V and USB sockets so that passengers can use their electronic devices.
It comes with generous boot space: 195 litres with all seats up, 830 litres with the third row down and 1698 litres with the second and third rows down.
Safety Features
According to Landrover, the new Discovery’s rear suspension set-up boosts on-road composure. I bet you, its front-end construction comes from the Range Rover Evoque. The car features Pedestrian Airbag and Autonomous Emergency 
Braking System, as a result of which it achieved maximum five star safety rating from Euro NCAP.
Aside that, it is equipped with ABD automatic braking, which uses sensors to detect potential impacts and automatically apply the brakes to stop the car from speeds up to 52km/h, or reduce impact speeds at up to 81km/h.
The same system also gives audio and visual warnings if it detects a possible cause of a collision, such as a row of stationary traffic. Other standard driver assistance equipment includes automatic windscreen demisting function, automatic headlamps and rain-sensitive wipers. Expect more, especially regarding ride and handling, whenever I lay my hand on one for a spin.
Last Words
The battle line is drawn. Since it arrived, Landrover Discovery Sport’s looks, actions and gestures have typified a machine that believes in itself and ability to subdue and silence all competitors. Whatever the case may be, time will tell.
