New 2017 Land Rover Discovery, first official photos

THE FIRST official shots of the highly anticipated fifth-generation Land Rover Discovery have landed.

The release of the official pics follows hot on the heels of the leaked spy shots that surfaced on the ’net late in August.

The new design loses the very boxy, upright lines of its predecessor and instead more closely resembles a Discovery Sport.

The new Discovery will replace JLR’s 2009-2016 version, which in August still managed to shift 258 units in Australia (2013 units to date this year).

The standard petrol- and diesel-powered drivetrains will be used internationally, but it remains unclear whether Australia will receive the petrol engine.

Just like the 2017 Range Rover Sport, the new Discovery will also adopt the four-cylinder diesel engine from JLR’s new Ingenium engine range.

The 2.0L-capacity donk claims a respectable 177kW and 500Nm.

Bonded and riveted aluminium panels will allow the new Disco to drop some kilograms, but this will also improve its strength and rigidity.

Land Rover’s chief design officer Gerry McGovern said in a statement: “[The] new Discovery redefines the large SUV. Land Rover’s design and engineering teams have revolutionised the Discovery DNA to create a highly desirable, extremely versatile and hugely capable premium SUV.”

The new Discovery will make its world premiere on September 28, 2016, ahead of the Paris Motor Show.

Australian pricing is yet to be released, but expect the range to start from about $70,000.

The fifth-gen Land Rover Discovery is estimated for a mid-2017 local launch – at the earliest.

Stay tuned to 4x4 Australia for all the in-depth details of the new Discovery, as soon as more news drops!