Land Rover Discovery to get SVX treatment?

Jaguar Land Rover is reportedly working on an extreme off-road version of the next-generation Land Rover Discovery. Likely known as the Discovery SVX, the model would serve as a high-performance rugged counterpart to the street-focused SVR builds, with both developed by JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations division.

The company is expected to introduce its next-generation Discovery sometime next year, while the SVX off-roader will land a year or more later, according to an Autocar report.

“There is a market for more off-road capability, so of course we’re looking at it,” SVO head John Edwards said, without divulging any details surrounding specific models.

Engineers are said to be focused on developing new technical solutions to off-roading challenges, rather than simply lifting the vehicle a bit higher and adding knobby tires. The company has already previewed ‘virtual’ pillars that eliminate blind spots, while a ‘transparent’ hood projects a view from a camera onto the windshield via HUD.

Edwards previously hinted that an SVX Defender is in the works, taking inspiration from vehicles that drive in off-road competitions such as the Camel Trophy and Dakar Rally.

A production version of the Discovery Vision concept could bow later this year in Paris, though the company has not yet pinned down a specific unveiling date.