Land Rover South Africa has introduced the first of many planned Gear Packages with a convenient Cycling Pack for the new Discovery.
Land Rover caters to a wide variety of lifestyles and sporting interests with a large catalogue of accessories, officially known as Gear. Now Discovery customers who enjoy adventuring on two wheels, as well as four, have an option to equip their vehicle with a range of cycling-oriented accessories hand-picked from the Gear range.
The new Cycling Pack includes a choice of either a Roof Mounted Bike Carrier for two bicycles (together with the required Roof Rails*) or a Tow Bar Mounted Bike Carrier for two. The Package also adds a Rubber Mat set for the first and second seating rows, and a waterproof Loadspace Liner Tray to protect the cargo area floor from the mud and grime picked up during a long day out on trails.
The Pack also enhances the exterior of a Discovery with a set of front and Rear Mudflaps, and a choice of black or silver Wheel Centre Caps. A requisite of any sporting activity, a First Aid Kit is also included in the deal.
The cost of all these Gear items would add up to a maximum R28 791 if bought individually but bundled together the Cycling Pack is priced at R22 500**. The Package is available to existing new Discovery owners, or can be built into the finance agreements of one bought from the showroom floor of any Land Rover retailer in South Africa.
One of the benefits of Land Rover Gear is that all items are factory approved and covered under standard vehicle warranty periods.
The new Discovery is still the most versatile premium SUV with seating for seven, up to 2,500 litres of luggage capacity and class-leading all-terrain capability.
All three seating rows are available with heated seats (heated and cooled in the first two rows) while massage seats are available for the driver and front passenger – a particularly comforting feature after those long distance rides.
The SUV provides up to 2,500 litres of load capacity, or up to 1,231 litres with the second row in place. A dual-purpose Powered Inner Tailgate provides a practical load restraint when raised, but when lowered the 285mm overhanging section doubles as a useful bench ideal for changing muddy cycling shoes or performing mild bicycle maintenance or repairs while under the shelter provided by a one-piece tailgate.
Additional storage facilities include a deep cubby hidden in the central console capable of holding a pair of two-litre drinks bottles, a second central armrest binnacle large enough for five iPads, and a concealed small-item stowage nook behind the flip-down Climate Control panel.
With ground clearance rated at 283mm and a maximum wading depth of 900mm, the Discovery can take mountain bikers to the start of even the most remote trails. When tackling particularly challenging terrain, All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) can be programmed to autonomously maintain a suitable crawl speed chosen by the driver. The clever technology allows the driver to concentrate solely on steering the vehicle as they negotiate obstacles, without the distraction of operating the throttle or brake pedals, and can also be used from a standstill to help when pulling away on slippery surfaces.
Land Rover’s multi-mode Terrain Response 2 system also optimises a range of settings, from throttle sensitivity to gearchange characteristics, to suit the driving conditions at the turn of a rotary controller – and can even select the optimum setting automatically if drivers are unsure of the best choice.
