The automotive world continues to advance, it continues to update, perhaps we are experiencing the greatest change in all of history, conditioned by electrification, and by the technological load that vehicles now bring, almost by obligation.

And this is leading to changes in every sense, even putting an end to models that, for one reason or another, are falling outside of social trends and are forced to disappear. And in this sense, land rover has hinted that we could be experiencing the last stage of a classic, the discovery.

Of course, we are not talking about the farewell of the model, mind you, it is not confirmed, but let’s say, the update of the current model, if we look at history, indicates that we could be about to change generations.

Because you just released the finish Landmarkand it is not the first time we see it, it was already launched in the discovery 2, 3 and 4, always in the last days of each of the generations. That this happens now, again, after 9 years since the premiere of Discovery 5, suggests what is about to happen.

The Landmark finish

This new finish is located between the access model, the S, and the most complete of all, the Tempest. In the United Kingdom it is on sale for a price of 75,860 pounds, about 88,500 euros at the exchange rate, that is, about 7,000 euros more than the access model, and about 9,000 less than the top of the range.

Among the most striking features, visually speaking, is the exclusive color, the Tasman Bluea metallic blue to pay homage to the Clearwater Blue of the original Discovery from 1989, the one that first gave life to this model, a nostalgic touch.

It also incorporates its own logo with the profile of a mountain range, which we see on the door sills, on the center console, on the B-pillar and even in the projection of the courtesy lights.

The standard version comes with a panoramic sliding roof and a refrigerator in the center console, ideal for trips and being able to always keep drinks and small foods fresh.

The package is finished off with a Narvik Black contrast roof, specific wheels in a Dark Gray finish, Carpathian Gray skid plates, Graphite Atlas accents on the grille and wings, Tech Velor door panels and standard air suspension. And orders, by the way, are now open.

As for the mechanics, there is no change, it maintains the D350 in the United Kingdom, the 350 HP six-cylinder diesel, without gasoline or plug-in hybrid options. Outside the UK we do have the D249 diesel and the P360 petrol variant.

The fording is also maintained at 900 millimeters, as is the trailer with Advanced Tow Assist.

And the D350 is no small feat: 700 Nm of torque and up to 3,500 kilos of towing capacity, plenty of figures for a seven-seater family car. As a new feature across the entire range, there is also a new driver attention monitor, an interior camera that launches visual and audible warnings if it detects distractions while driving.

New generation of Discovery?

The name Landmark It was last used in 2019, a limited edition of Discovery 5 itself for its 30th anniversary, although it was a short run. But it has also been present every time a generation of Discovery was about to end.

Now, it enters the range permanently, it remains with the S and the Tempest, the latter is also renewed with a new color, Borasco Gray, and changes to the interior, combinations called Light Oyster and Caraway.

The Tempest also adds exterior accents in Petra Copper, 22-inch wheels and extended upholstery in Windsor leather, so that the distance with the new Landmark is very clear.

Although there is no official confirmation, everything indicates that yes, this generation is experiencing the final stretch before moving on to the next. It was launched in the United Kingdom in 2017, that is, 9 years ago, and is, today, the oldest of the brand, and it seems that a generational change is needed to face the new reality that the automobile is experiencing.

In fact, the British press has asked JLR directly if the Landmark is the swan song of this generation, and the official response has been to not comment on future product plans. And in this business, a silence of that caliber usually says much more than a denial.

During those nine years, the Defender, the little brother, has grown bigger, and has been surpassing it and gaining ground, so yes, it is time to give it a new boost, a new identity in line with the automotive reality.

Electric models

Of course, the new Discovery requires a deep reconstruction of the company, it is expected to share the MLA architecture of the current Range Rover, and this can be made with electric motors, in addition to being able to include combustion and hybrid engines under the same body.

So while the fifth generation Discovery is living, what seems to be, its final stretch, the company is preparing the new model, without losing sight of the currently open fronts, such as the Range Rover Electriche Defender Sport and the relief of Velar.

The question regarding the latest finish of the Discovery, the Landmarkit is whether it remains on the market for a long time or, as has happened other times, it becomes a low-production car, more of a whim than anything else, to make way for the new generation as soon as possible.

If everything happens as it has in these almost four decades, there is no doubt, the new Discovery, the new generation, is getting closer to becoming a reality, and the Landmarkwill put an end to a fifth generation that has lasted 9 years on the market.