DISCOVERY SERIES II'S ON & OFF ROAD CAPABILITIES

On a freshly paved interstate or a rock-strewn mountain trail, the 1999 Discovery Series II is engineered for optimum traction and control. Building upon the strengths of its predecessors, the new Discovery has all the off-road prowess for which Land Rover is rightfully renowned, coupled with a new level of on-road dynamic performance.

Other sport-utility companies may place jungles and mountain paths in their brochures, but Land Rover has truly tested in such conditions -- and conquered them. While the Discovery Series II's specific off-road capabilities are listed in its specifications, no single number can describe its uncanny ability to climb, crawl, descend and generally best most obstacles.

This incredible capability results from the harmonious workings of engine and drive system, suspension, steering and brakes. And many of the refinements in the Discovery Series II benefit both its on-pavement behavior and its trail-running ability.

For instance, the Discovery Series II's 4.0-liter V8 engine has been thoroughly revised for more power and torque. The latter is most impressive, not only for the 250 pound-feet of peak torque, but the fact that this superb pulling power is available at just 2,600 rpm. So pulling out onto a busy highway or hauling a loaded trailer are truly all in a day's work.

Harnessing this increased and refined power is an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission and a two-speed transfer gearbox. Shifting with greater precision, this computer-controlled automatic also gives you a choice of Sport Mode in High Range and Manual Mode in Low Range. This new automatic also offers improved serviceability (due to a revised frame crossmember), and its transmission fluid does not need changing for 100,000 miles.

Permanent four-wheel drive, long a Land Rover mainstay, reaches new levels in the new Discovery. With three differentials, this system directs power to all four wheels all the time...and all automatically, no matter what the road surface.

A new benefit for off-roaders is Land Rover's patented Hill Descent Control (HDC). Push a button on the dashboard, select Low Range and HDC goes to work. You can keep your foot off the brake and just steer and add more throttle as needed -- HDC will restrict downhill speed to a safe, low rate in any forward gear or Reverse. (It even operates in Neutral for a short period, if you accidentally leave your Discovery Series II out of gear.)

The foundation of many of these new systems is the Discovery Series II's sophisticated Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), operating a set of four large disc brakes. The front brakes feature reverse ventilation to help keep them cool and efficient, even on long mountain descents.

Discovery's ABS is a four-channel system, meaning each wheel is controlled separately to give you maximum steering control, even on split-friction surfaces. More than that, the ABS is an all-terrain system, which means it changes its control program depending upon the surface of the road or trail.

Another addition to the Discovery Series II's braking system is Electronic Brake Distribution. EBD monitors the deceleration rates of the front and rear wheels (before and in addition to ABS action) to proportion braking forces progressively no matter what the load -- allocating more braking force to the front if the vehicle is lightly loaded or more to the rear if heavily loaded.

Although the marketplace is filled with a glut of sport-utility vehicles, what was true a decade ago is even more true today -- there is absolutely nothing like a Discovery. The new Series II version of this versatile, highly capable vehicle has more power to pass, greater dynamic stability and even more impressive stopping performance. It makes any maneuver easy and confidence-inspiring, whether on a dry highway, a rain-soaked secondary road or some barely passable trail out in the boondocks.