Land Rover has just pulled the covers off its newest iteration of the iconic Discovery. Nearly every nut and bolt is completely new for 2017, save for the carry-over gasoline V-6 and the turbodiesel V-6 borrowed from the Range Rover lineup. Gone is the heavy body-on-frame design, and with it roughly 1,000 pounds of weight. Yes, incredibly the fifth generation Discovery sheds half a ton by moving to a unibody design constructed mostly out of aluminum.

Classic design themes are seen in the Disco’s new exterior, including the stepped roofline. Like before, it gives more headroom for second and third row passengers. Land Rover says the rear seats are designed for the 95th percentile adult to sit comfortably. That’s also aided by more legroom, too.

But we’re here to talk technology – about all the tech gadgets and creature comforts that stand out inside the new Discovery. So keep reading for the full scoop.

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Technological Advancements

Technology wise, the 2017 Discovery boasts tons of updates. Those rear seats have Land Rover’s new Intelligent Seat Fold technology, allowing the owner to fold the seats with a connected smartphone running Land Rover’s app. Speaking of connected devices, the Disco allows for eight devices to pair to its in-car 3G Wi-Fi hotspot. It is a bit odd Land Rover didn’t opt for 4G technology, however.

Land Rover’s new in-dash system, the InControl Touch Pro infotainment system, now uses a 10-inch touch screen and comes with updated software over the existing InControl software. The included navigation system can also send direction to a smartphone, allowing the owner to complete a trip on foot, say like in a big city. The hardware is very similar to the infotainment system seen in the 2017 Jaguar F-Pace.

Land Rover pulled other tech from the F-Pace, namely the Activity Key wristband. The watch-like, waterproof band acts just like the normal key fob, giving the wearer access to the Discovery and the ability to free pocket space of bulky keys.

Other in-dash innovations include a hidden storage space behind the HVAC controls. Yep, the area around the HVAC switches folds down, revealing a spot for small items like phones and keys. There’s also a flush-mounted hook that deploys in the passenger side foot well for holding shopping bags.

The new Discovery also sports plenty of storage space. There’s 82.7 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seats folded flat. Drop only the third row, and there is still 45 cubic feet of room. The center console between the front seats also holds room for a pair of two-liters. It’s also large enough to hold five tablet computers. Nine USB ports and six 12-volt power ports keep everybody’s devices charged.

Of course, the Discovery’s technological advancements aren’t limited to the inside. The new Land Rover boasts 11.1 inches of ground clearance. That’s a full 1.7 inches over the outgoing LR4. Water fording dept increases by 7.9 inches to 35.4 inches. That’s nearly three full feet of dept the Discovery can safety cross. Helping the Disco off road is Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 system, optimized for the Disco’s new size and features. New for 2017 is the All-Terrain Progress Control, or ATPC. It’s basically an off-road cruise control with various speed settings available to the driver.

Thanks to the massive diet, the 2017 Disco can now tow 8,201 pounds. That’s nearly 500 pounds more than the outgoing LR4. Assisting in the towing department is Land Rover’s Advanced Tow Assist function. Like the Pro Trailer Backup Assist found on the Ford F-150, the system eliminates the need to counter-steer when backing a trailer. The driver simply turns the Terrain Response knob in the direction he wants the trailer to go and the computer controls the steering. The knob progressively controls the movement of the front tires, allowing for precise control.

Not everything on the 2017 Discovery is new, however. The supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 carries over form the LR4, still producing 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. The V-6 should feel much peppier thanks to the 1,000-pound weight drop. Also not new for Land Rover, but new to the Discovery is the 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel. It can be found in the current Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. Power levels remain the same at 254 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. Both engines use the familiar ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 2017 Land Rover Discovery will be available in North America starting in mid-2017. It will carry a starting price of $49,990. This actually represents a drop in price by $1,000 over the LR4, though prices are likely to climb quickly with higher trim levels and optional extras added on.

Be sure to check out TopSpeed for our full coverage of the 2017 Land Rover Discovery.