New Land Rover Discovery Sport final development testing

Land Rover release details of testing of the Discovery Sport as it enters final development, and compares its testing and development with Virgin Galactic.

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With the new Land Rover Discovery Sport expected to debut at the Paris Motor Show in October – and be on sale in early 2015 – Land Rover are busy testing it through its final development stage.

That’s meant some pretty rigorous shakedowns going on, with a total of 181 prototype Discovery Sports covering 750,000 miles and completing 11,000 test at locations around the world, from extremes of hot and cold to all points in between.

But instead of just giving us the test numbers, some new photos (above) and new video (below) of the new Disco Sport, Land Rover are taking the opportunity to big up their partnership with Virgin Galactic and the similarities in the two company’s aims and objectives with their projects.

Murray Dietsch, Land Rover’s Programme Director, said:

There is a common philosophy towards engineering between Land Rover and our partners Virgin Galactic.

We start with an idea and build from there, spending years refining a design and completing virtual testing before the first prototypes see the tarmac. As our partnership with Virgin Galactic develops, it will be fascinating to get closer to their team and explore common areas of engineering and expertise.

And the man from Virgin Galactic, George Whiteside echoed the sentiments:

As we look to launching the world’s first spaceline, Virgin Galactic continues to push boundaries and develop pioneering new innovations that bring to life our vision.

In engineering and design, like Land Rover, our focus is on precision, ingenuity, and unparalleled design.

So, Land Rover are certain the new Discovery Sport will be a winner, and Virgin Galactic are similarly keen to push boundaries and innovate.

Which is all bodes well for UK PLC.