LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 3 HISTORY & UPDATES

OFFROADING LEGEND

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The Land Rover Discovery was originally titled “Project Jay”, has earned many awards over the years and doesn’t appear to be going out of style any time soon. It is the only vehicle that has received 97 international awards for just one production 4×4.

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The Land Rover Discovery 3 model

was built between 2005 to 2009, with a 5 door SUV style. Engine options were the two-liter Ford AJD-V6, PSA DT17, TDV6, the four-liter Ford Cologne V6, and a 4.4-liter Jaguar AJ-V8. The 6-speed transmission had manual and automatic options available. The wheelbase is 113.6 inches with a curb weight of 2,461 kilograms. It was introduced as a new design, sharing very little with its predecessor, the Series II.

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LAND ROVER DISCOVERY FEATURES

One of the most exciting features of the Discovery LR3 was the all-new Integrated Body Frame or IBF. This was a great development as the previous series was based on a traditional, strong ladder frame chassis. The old frame was great for an off-road experience but was too heavy for city applications. The alternative to the strong ladder frame system is the Monocoque system which provided a more stable driving experience when at higher speeds.

The IBF claims to combine these systems by providing a Monocoque system for the engine bay and passenger compartment while the gearbox and suspension lie on a ladder chassis. How well this worked depends on who you speak to, but one thing sure, it definitely is a heavy car. The extra weight of the Land Rover Discovery probably was the reason it was the first Land Rover to be produced with a rear locking differential.

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The other big feature in the land rover discovery 3 was the fully independent suspension or FIS. This was an air suspension system which allowed the ride height of the vehicle to be modified by simply pumping or deflating the system. This provided a more versatile vehicle that could be raised when off road and lowered for a more comfortable, and safe, handling. However, many car owners felt that this feature caused the vehicle to bottom out when taking the car off-road. An attempt to solve this issue was made by installing a cross-linked air suspension system that mimics a beam axle. These features were included to adopt the new model to a changing 4×4 market.

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19MY Discovery

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Off-road performance was no longer a priority as more and more users were using 4x4s nearly exclusively on the road and demanded a smooth and comfortable ride. This is precisely where the LR3 stands out, providing refined on-road manners while still being a “REAL 4X4” with hardcore off-road performance.

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