Description
Land Rover made a stunt move and introduced a more affordable version for the Range Rover when introducing a three-door Discovery on the market in 1990.
Like the Range Rover, the Discovery started its career as a three-door only off-road vehicle. In the following year, it added another set of doors for the rear passengers. But it was the first version that conquered the hearts (and pockets) of those who liked a comfortable family vehicle but with outstanding off-roading skills.
Even though the aluminum was already more expensive than the regular steel panels, Land Rover still used it. At the front, the carmaker installed rectangular headlights and corner-mounted turn signals to comply with the latest road legislation from Europe and U.S. On the sides, the doors featured flush-mounted door handles, and behind them, Land Rover added a large side window between the B-pillar and the thick C-pillar. A third glass area provided more natural light in between the C- and the D-pillars. Finally, the British designers created a two-step roof with a raised area above the trunk.
Inside, there was a modern interior with front bucket seats that tilt-forward to make room for the rear passengers. For the driver, the carmaker installed buttons on the sides of the instrument cluster. For a comfortable ride, there was an option for two sunroofs on top of the three-door Discovery. To get in the rear seats, the front ones tilted and slid forward.
But the essential part of the car was under the bodywork. Its coil-springs in all corners with live axles ensured a long suspension travel and comfortable ride. Land Rover installed an all-wheel-drive system with a locking center differential and a two-speed transfer case. Under the hood, the carmaker offered a choice of two engines: a 3.5-liter gasoline V-8 and a 2.5-liter turbo-diesel. The former was developed especially for the U.S. market, while the latter was the top-seller on the European continent. For specific countries, such as Greece, Italy, and Portugal, Land Rover provided the vehicle with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine.
