Land Rover Discovery Electric likely to incorporate minivan-like touches

Update: ‘Design,’ ‘Interior,’ ‘Specifications,’ and ‘Price & Release Date’ updated.

Six pure-electric models are arriving on the market by 2026 as part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Reimagine strategy announced in early 2021. Among these, or shortly after, we can expect a Land Rover Discovery Electric, as the nameplate undergoes a “luxury reinvention,” as per Auto Express.

Design

The next-gen Land Rover Discovery will be the sixth generation of the versatile family SUV. The fifth-gen model is strikingly different from its predecessor, and the design of the sixth-gen model could take another detour, since the Defender has overshadowed this nameplate in recent years.

Mark Cameron, the Managing Director for Defender and Discovery, has said that JLR has to make sure the latter has a unique positioning, Autocar said in a report on August 26, 2024. The company will pitch it more strongly as a family adventure vehicle in the next generation.

The British publication says JLR may give the next-gen Discovery a slightly MPV-esque design to put a greater emphasis on its family-friendliness. Land Rover designers could borrow design cues from recently popular European minivans, like the VW ID. Buzz, for instance. Thus, the new Discovery could look strikingly different from the current SUV.

While Land Rover designers have been tasked to redefine the Discovery, we feel that the nameplate’s unmistakable DNA should still be evident in future versions. Sleeker, digital LED lights and flush door handles could be among the new design elements of the sixth-gen model. A clean look, with a deleted upper grille, more aerodynamic wheels, and streamlined bumpers should give it the necessary efficiency boost.

Interior

The interior is also expected to be a major departure from the current model, but should continue offering three rows of seats, preserving its “family adventures” values. The Range Rover Sport lost the third-row option when it moved to its third generation. So, customers seeking a three-row Range Rover have to go for the full-size Range Rover. Additionally, there’s less cannibalization for the Disco, since it belongs to the same segment as the Range Rover Sport.

Specifications

EMA Platform

The next-gen Land Rover Discovery will not share the MLA-Flex platform with the latest Range Rover (L460) and Range Rover Sport (L461). Instead, it will use the EMA architecture which is developed exclusively for all-electric models, JLR CEO Adrian Mardell revealed during a conversation with Auto Express in 2023. The British magazine has received confirmation that the EMA can underpin a three-row, seven-seat vehicle, but the platform switch could lead to a short hiatus for the Discovery nameplate.

Benefits of electrifying the Discovery

The Discovery would benefit greatly from full electrification. For one, it will run in absolute quietness, elevating its luxury quotient and making it more suitable for leisure activities, such as wildlife and bird safaris. A better weight distribution should also improve its driving dynamics and make it more stable on the highways. Furthermore, it is likely to be more nimble in the urban scene and more potent on off-road trails thanks to instant peak torque availability.

The higher ground clearance, underbody shielding, and torque vectoring can make it a better off-roader than the gas model. Finally, it can set itself apart from the Defender as a vehicle built from the ground-up as an EV.

Range & Charging

e-AWD with two motors, one on the front axle and one on the second axle, could be standard in the Land Rover Discovery Electric. The power and torque figures may vary, though. It’s too early to talk about the battery pack and specs at the moment, but customers will expect at least 300 miles of range (EPA). Since the EMA is an 800V architecture, rapid charging speeds of up to 350 kW should be possible, with a 5-80 percent charging achievable in around 20 minutes.

Price & Release Date

The Land Rover Discovery Electric could be the final model in the 6 EVs that Jaguar Land Rover has locked-in by 2026. Either that, or it could be the first in the model sequence that follows thereafter, placing its launch in 2026-27.

Jaguar Land Rover has partnered with Wolfspeed to secure Silicon Carbide semiconductors for inverters in future EVs, including the Land Rover Discovery Electric. Wolfspeed’s SiC inverters have a bandgap of 3.26, which is nearly three times the bandgap of a silicon semiconductor (1.12). This would significantly improve powertrain efficiency and offer a higher driving range.

Strategic partnership with Wolfspeed will secure supply for Silicon Carbide semiconductor technology, integral to electrification of its next generation Range Rover, Discovery, Defender and Jaguar vehicles.

Jaguar Land Rover announcement on Oct 31, 2022 via media.jaguarlandrover.com

The current seven-seat Discovery costs £60,540 (UK)/$59,900 (USA) onwards. We’re expecting prices to start at under USD 70,000 for the Discovery EV.

TopElectricSUV says

The Land Rover Discovery EV is expected to be a spacious and versatile family car, reinvented for its sixth generation with minivan-inspired touches. We imagine it striking a balance between the VW ID. Buzz and the Volvo EX90, offering the best of both worlds. British engineers are likely benchmarking it against European rivals on practicality and off-road capabilities, making it more suitable for both the weekday commute and weekend adventures.

Land Rover Discovery Electric FAQs

Featured Image Source: Jaguar Land Rover