logo
Land Rover has lightly updated the Discovery and unveiled two new special editions

Land Rover has lightly updated the Discovery and unveiled two new special editions

Top Gear15-05-2025

Land Rover has lightly updated the Discovery and unveiled two new special editions
Tempest and Gemini Editions arrive to remind us that the Disco 5 is still on sale
Skip 16 photos in the image carousel and continue reading
Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures.
1
/
16
The Land Rover Discovery 5 was first unveiled just moments after the extinction of the dinosaurs, and yet it remains on sale today. In fact, Land Rover has just updated it once again and launched a couple of special editions, because not everybody wants a Defender…
The Discovery Tempest is a new top-of-the-range model with a matte protective film over the paint and contrasting 'Petra Copper Gloss' roof and accents. The same blingy colour also adorns the 22in diamond-turned wheels, while inside there's special badging, aluminium detailing and loads of black leather.
Advertisement - Page continues below
Oh, and we're told that the name Tempest comes from the secret development launch programme for the second-generation Discovery. Pretty neat.
The Gemini also delves into the Disco archives for its title, because it was once the codename given to the 2.5-litre Tdi diesel engine in the original 1989 Discovery 1. The new special edition is apparently available in six different exterior colours, but the 'Sedona Red' option is unique to the Gemini.
A contrast black roof is standard, as are 21in silver wheels and the obligatory badging. On the inside we're told that it's prepped for 'family adventures' with a fridge between the front seats, 'media holders' for rear seat passengers and three-zone climate control.
All Discos are now only available with a mild hybrid 3.0-litre straight-six diesel that's badged D350 and makes 345bhp and 516lb ft of torque. Along with these new specials, the standard S, Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE and Metropolitan Edition cars get enhanced spec. Discovery prices now kick off at £64,810 in the UK, with the Gemini costing £72,505 before options and the flagship Tempest a hefty £83,720.
Advertisement - Page continues below
Looking to spend even more cash? Land Rover also has a range of new accessory packs, including a Beach Days pack with rubber floor mats, sunshades, a roof rack and a collapsible organiser for the boot. The Road Trip pack adds organisers to the backs of the front seats, a roof box on top and wind deflectors on the windows, while the Snow Days pack allows you to carry skis up top and adds a 'snow traction system' for when things get really wintery.
Top Gear
Newsletter
Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox.
Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Success Your Email*

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Labour scraps £950m EV rapid charging fund first announced by Conservatives
Labour scraps £950m EV rapid charging fund first announced by Conservatives

The Guardian

time40 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Labour scraps £950m EV rapid charging fund first announced by Conservatives

Labour ministers have scrapped a promise by the previous government for a £950m fund for installing electric car chargers near motorways, instead setting aside a smaller sum mainly for on-street charging points. The rapid charging fund (RCF) was first announced in 2020 by Rishi Sunak, then Conservative chancellor, with the aim of supporting upgrades to the grid so that more electric vehicles could be rapidly charged at the same time. However, it was mired in delays amid concerns it could unfairly benefit some motorway service companies. The Department for Transport said the RCF had never formally been included in budget plans, so the promise was unfunded. The Guardian revealed in March that ministers were considering directing proposed funding away from motorway services, amid criticisms of the fund's design from industry. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has committed £400m over the next five years 'to support the rollout of charging infrastructure' in this month's spending review, after announcing £200m for charging at the autumn budget. It is understood much of the spending will support on-street charge points in poorer areas, where private-sector investment has lagged behind. However, some people in the charging industry said the government should have honoured the £950m pledge in full, even if the money was redirected towards other incentives for people to switch to EVs. John Lewis, the chief executive at which operates on-street chargers, welcomed the £400m pledge. However, he said: 'The key question now is: couldn't the full amount have been directed towards the EV effort – whether through the continued rollout of on-street charging or other consumer incentives – to give people greater confidence to make the switch to electric?' The number of electric car chargers in the UK is rising rapidly, passing 80,000 in May, according to data company Zap Map. That represented a 29% increase compared with a year earlier, while the number of rapid chargers with power above 50kW rose by a third. Not all chargers are created equal More and more people are buying electric cars, and are having to grapple with charging for the first time. However, not all chargers are created equal, and the profusion of units can cause confusion. Charging speeds are measured by power output in kilowatts (kW), while battery capacity is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). For example, a Nissan Leaf has 39kWh of battery capacity, while a Tesla Model Y has 60kWh. Recharge times vary depending on battery size: divide the battery size by the power to get a very rough idea of how many hours it will take to charge. (E.g., a 60kWh battery at a 22kW charger would take about three hours.) The quicker the charge, the more it tends to cost. Slow: up to 8kW Common at homes, on-street chargers and places cars hang around like car parks or hotels. Suitable for charging overnight. Plugging in with a UK three-pin plug to the mains at home will deliver about 2.3kW – although it is not recommended. Fast: 8kW to 49kW Found at urban sites like supermarkets, shopping centres or car parks. Capable of charging a smaller battery in a few hours. Rapid: 50kW to 150kW Typically found close to big roads for journey charging, but also increasingly found in locations such as supermarkets or gyms with short dwell times. 50kW could give 80% charge in less than an hour. Ultra-rapid: 150kW and above Most chargers being installed at motorway services or dedicated charging hubs are now at least 150kW. Many newer cars can now handle 150kW, and several can charge at speeds of over 300kW, adding hundreds of miles of range in around 10 minutes. Increasing the number of public chargers is seen as crucial to persuading people to switch to electric cars. However, the focus has shifted from rapid chargers, which can allay 'range anxiety' on longer journeys, to the slower on-street chargers needed for car owners who do not have private parking spaces. Ian Johnston, the chief executive of Osprey Charging, said: 'New funding should be more effectively deployed on projects in prime locations where the grid connection costs render the site unviable – whether A roads, underserved regions or the small number of motorway locations with unviable grid – rather than gifted to all motorway sites regardless of the costs, as was envisaged under the RCF.' Johnston also called for changes to road signage permissions to allow charge points to be easily advertised to drivers. Quentin Willson, the founder of FairCharge, a group campaigning for cheaper charging, said the full £950m should have been spent on accelerating the switch to electric cars. 'Withholding unused RCF funds and not diverting them towards other EV charging initiatives isn't a great look for government,' he said. 'It opens them to the obvious questions about their commitment to the EV transition.' Willson, a former presenter of the Top Gear TV programme, said the government should also cut VAT on public charging to match the lower rates available on home electricity. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: 'The rapid charging fund was designed to support the rollout of charging infrastructure on motorways and major A roads – but the previous government did not set out detailed plans to deliver this. 'Since the fund was announced in 2020, the market has changed significantly, with the number of open-access rapid and ultra-rapid charge points within one mile of the strategic road network almost quadrupling in the last three years alone.'

Rolls-Royce has been fixed and is now going on the attack
Rolls-Royce has been fixed and is now going on the attack

Telegraph

timean hour ago

  • Telegraph

Rolls-Royce has been fixed and is now going on the attack

Five years after Rolls-Royce nearly collapsed under the weight of Covid, the British manufacturing giant is plotting a new era of industrial domination. Under the guidance of boss Tufan Erginbilgiç, nicknamed 'Turbo', Rolls has overcome an era of financial chaos and mismanagement to launch a renewed assault on the jet engine and nuclear power markets. As he declared the next stage of the company's strategy last week, the former BP executive said Rolls's revival will soon contribute 'the single biggest item for economic growth for the UK'. It is far from the gloomy message he told workers after landing as chief executive in 2023, when he described the engineering giant as a 'burning platform'. Speaking at the Paris Air Show last week, he said Rolls is stepping up plans to make engines for the short-haul planes that dominate air travel, after quitting the sector more than a decade ago. To some degree, the announcement encapsulated the radical turnaround at Britain's leading manufacturer, which now has a market capitalisation of £75bn, seven times higher than when Erginbilgiç took over in January 2023.

Car Deal of the Day: Spacious and sophisticated Kia Niro EV for less than £240 per month
Car Deal of the Day: Spacious and sophisticated Kia Niro EV for less than £240 per month

Auto Express

time2 hours ago

  • Auto Express

Car Deal of the Day: Spacious and sophisticated Kia Niro EV for less than £240 per month

Comfortable family SUV Three-year lease deal Only £237 per month The Kia Niro EV might not be the newest electric SUV on the block, but it's very good, offering sophisticated looks, a classy interior, comfortable ride and lots of space. Plus, it can be yours for only £237 per month, thanks to this deal we found through the Auto Express Find A Car service. Advertisement - Article continues below That price is being offered by First Vehicle Leasing, through Auto Express. It's for a three-year lease with an initial payment of £3,149, followed by monthly payments of £237. Included in the offer is an annual allowance of 5,000 miles per year, or you can extend it to 8,000 for less than £20 extra each month. Even though this is the entry-level Niro EV, it still comes equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, dual 10.25-inch displays, sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, smart cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and various driver-assistance systems. Every Niro EV features a 65kWh battery that offers up to 285 miles of range and powers a 201bhp fount-mounted electric motor, which can propel the family SUV from 0-62mph in a little under eight seconds. The Kia's 72kW maximum charging speed isn't the fastest we've seen, and as a result, it takes at least 45 minutes to recharge from 10 to 80 per cent battery capacity. Inside, the sharp displays are housed in a single curved panel, below which is the same handy, dual-purpose touch panel as in the Kia EV6. Push one button, and the panel offers either the climate controls or shortcuts for the infotainment system. You also get an impressive 475-litre boot, plus an additional 20 litres of storage space under the bonnet. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car retailers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Kia Niro EV leasing offers from leading providers on our Kia Niro deals hub page… Check out the Kia Niro EV Deal of the Day or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here … Find a car with the experts Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch is on the way to the UK Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch is on the way to the UK The success of the GR Yaris has persuaded Toyota that there's room in its UK range for the high performance Corolla Car Deal of the Day: Blistering BMW M135 for a bargain £301 a month Car Deal of the Day: Blistering BMW M135 for a bargain £301 a month Not many hot hatchbacks are as complete as BMW's recently updated M135. It's our Deal of the Day for 19 June. Car Deal of the Day: a potent 335bhp Volkswagen ID.7 GTX for a rock bottom price Car Deal of the Day: a potent 335bhp Volkswagen ID.7 GTX for a rock bottom price GTX Plus gives some extra punch to an already excellent electric saloon. It's our Deal of the Day for 20 June.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store