It is often curious in the 2020s to think how long ago the 1980s was, as long as you were alive to see it. For Land Rover enthusiasts, that means knowing a time before there was such a thing as The Discovery.
Launched in 1989, the Discovery marked a new development for Land Rover and its 35th birthday is being marked with the launch of a new limited edition Discovery, as well as a series of commemorative events, which Land Rover excitingly informs us will include the serving of much ice cream.
Anyone with a 1989 Discovery will have enjoyed the power of its V8 engine, although after this long it may require a little TLC now and again, like most 35-year-olds.
The new £80,000 (well, £79,990 – you can spend the rest on the ice cream) version is taking things up a notch as one might expect, with a 3.0 Ingenium diesel engine and an advanced 48V mild hybrid electric being the offerings this time. The new 350d diesel marks a powerful advance from the previous 300d.
All that may make older Discovery vehicles seem a little tame by comparison, but the significance of this line cannot be underestimated. Reflecting on this anniversary, Top Gear Magazine hailed the Discovery as the vehicle that ‘saved’ Land Rover.
Subsequently, the publication noted, the Defender has become the star of the Land Rover SUV show, but, it observed, “There was once a time where the Discovery was Land Rover’s best-selling model. One that broadened the British automaker’s customer base and brought in much-needed cash for it.”
In essence, the Discovery marks a key moment in time, not quite as significant as other 1989 events like the Berlin Wall coming down, but a step forward for Land Rover in broadening its market away from its rugged, off-road heritage. The last 35 years may not have all belonged to the Discovery, but many will still be very proud to own one.