Nicked from DG on the disco site, got my invite a few minutes ago for the afternoon session

http://m.whatcar.com/news_article.xml?newsid=39597 FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

Well i went and really enjoyed it nice factory tour although it was closed down but got the offer of anothe tour in the future to make up for it, another LRE voucher and a goodybag on its way to me

Got to say the underbody protection seems more substantial if its carried into the production model as there was a definate metal plate or two underneath and i guess it will help the dynamics of the car having a smoother underbody but the centre console still irks me although its an easy thing to fix with some leather should they chose to.

battery was dead within about 5 minutes of us playing with it and not being allowed to start the car didnt help

One thing that was said was that all varients of the new one will be faster than the old 4.2SC! even the diesels!

Also the 4.4 TDV8 will be horned in next year as well as the hybrid drivetrain which will be the same outfit fitted into the L405 (i think this ones model name is L420 or something like that) but the other thing i noticed was even though it will use the same drivetrain they get a nice gear stick, very much like the BMW ones with a Park Button but this is not an option on the L405... Im betting this will be a drop in mod as it takes up the same physical space and it must connect up the same way as a few others there commented that their current Disco 4's and L322's had the Dial and that it was ridiculous how long it took to pop up and the feel of it was just rubbish compared to the gearstick on offer for the new SSRR.

Also spoiler alert, it looks to have some kind of double wishbone suspension at the front, its got greater suspension travel than the old one, wading depth of 850mm and i doubt an RAI will be available for it at all in the future unlike the current one.

Engines will be,
TDV6
SDV6
SDV8
5.0SC
Hybrid arrangement(possibly using the 2.2 SD4 though its possible it could be something like the Fisker Karma where the engine is purely a genset and the 4 wheels each have an electric motor)

If the Hybrid is the latter it would help keep the weight down, range up and give some stonking performance with the right electric motors fitted as that would be 100% power to each wheel with no transmisson loss to speak of as im betting they are going for performance at least as good as the TDV6 model.

7 Seats will be an option over here only electrically where as abroad its been hinted at could get a manual option. If it was me i'd stick with Manual as it will be easier in the long run and quicker and less trapped fingers to worry about IMO. Seats will be for upto 11year olds only as they are really small, think peugeot 206cc small, maybe a smidge bigger. boot space is almost entirely gone when in use unlike the Disco4's.

Inside actually feels a decent amount smaller than the outgoing model.
I got to play with an Autobiography 5.0SC variant BTW.
I did comment that for the price this will be sold for i'd expect more leather inside, possibly the kick plate type areas and centre console side panels at the very least to give it all a smoother feel. Also the dash strip is a honeycombe affair, i said there should be a no cost option for a nice piano or body coloured strip there or leather as well(more customisable is what they are really going for anyway) as i think the smoother look would appeal to just as many people as the honeycombe.

The ICE is lifted from the L405 almost entirely from how it felt, though possibly a downgraded model with less speakers but still pretty good and a lot faster than you would think.
Park assist will be an option as well but not with rear locking diff ticked(like the L405) but this is to be remedied next year im told as its got to be just a software glitch in my eyes.
Suspension is set to cope with corners even better than the current model and alloys start at 20" going to 22" but like the L405 a 19" option is in the pipeworks for some varients(SDV8 and SC will be 21" minimum from what i could see on the one on show the 21's were already snug with the big calipers up front which i thought might be 8pots but couldn't easily get to see.

Fuel again like its big brother is a fair old increase as the weight saving is nearly 400kg again being a monocoque using mostly rivets and glue to hold it together. The glue is apparently strong than the aluminium in that if you stick 2 panels together with it and try to pull them apart, the metal gives in before the glue does so a hi tensil strength.

The main front and rear impact load spreaders are still honking bits of steel with a good zinc coating(i forgot to ask why they still need steel in those sections) but also the 2 front outriggers had some kind of rubber damper arrangement which should help absorb low-med shunts but could result in reduced repair costs if they simply unbolt but as the main from and shell contain no welds repairs could be more fun for big jobs... FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

Great report.

I am looking forward to having a lookiesee at the new Sport in a week or two. If you don't get stuck then you are not trying hard enough.
2012 FFRR TDV8 Westminister
Gone: Def90 2.8i, Def110 2.8i
Gone: RRC 2-Door and 4-Door, 2007 FFRR TDV8 Vogue
Gone: Aussie Spec D1 V8, D2 V8

I'll get my pictures up soon and a link to the whatcar stuff when it comes out in the next few weeks  FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/range-rove...=image_2_1

Cheers Mick, 2:28 is where I show up

Felt a bit under dressed as i was the only one not in some sort of gentlemen's attire, but i guess i was more like the average sport driver :p (only joking lads!)

To be honest i can't wait to see how the trick new front suspension works on the road and what it actually looks like with a wheel off as well. FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

Good to put a face to the name..
Presenting top gear next then eh! Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

Ha ha! Might do a better job but i think going from jeans and shirt to trousers and casual shirt with the odd hoody might scare a few viewers off as i babble on about the advantages of getting rid of springs and dampers and going to air springs or hydro kit and how much i love tinkering with a range rover or old car and whinging about their design flaws....

Anyway im trying to get onto the press review event which is this month or next month in Wales and still havent got my LR goodybag and another LRE voucher and another Solihull tour when the plant is up and running

Hope that LR took some of my advisories onboard for the new Sport as i think it could be cheaply and easily improved to bring it into the class its wanting to be. FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.