- All-new Land Rover Discovery shows its capability on Guinness World Record-breaking LEGO structure
- Show-stopping reveal features Land Rover customers Bear Grylls, Sir Ben Ainslie and Zara Phillips MBE
- Available full-size seven-seat versatility(1) demonstrated by Sir Ben Ainslie and Land Rover BAR sailing team, the British challenger for the 35th America’s Cup
- London’s Tower Bridge made from 5,805,846 LEGO bricks, beating previous record by 470,646 pieces
- For full details on the all-new Land Rover Discovery visit, media.landrover.com/en-us
(SOLIHULL, U.K.) – September 28, 2016 – Land Rover has revealed the fifth -generation full-size Discovery SUV by breaking a Guinness World Record for the largest LEGO structure ever built.
Long-term Land Rover Discovery owners Bear Grylls, Sir Ben Ainslie and Zara Phillips MBE took part in the dynamic live reveal of the most versatile Land Rover vehicle around a 42.6-foot high LEGO version of London’s Tower Bridge.
The all-new Discovery embodies the Land Rover drive to go Above and Beyond, combining British desirability with an unstoppable spirit of adventure. It is highly desirable, combining capability and technology in new and unique ways for the Land Rover brand.
Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Design Officer, said, “the all-new Discovery redefines the full-size SUV. The Land Rover design and engineering teams have revolutionized the DNA of Discovery to create a highly desirable, extremely versatile and hugely capable premium SUV.”
Everyday ingenuity has been at the heart of the Discovery for the last 27 years, with more than 1.2 million customers to date. The fifth-generation Discovery is for the digital age. Ingenious technology assists drivers and keeps passengers connected and confident on a variety of surfaces, terrains and weather conditions to help ensure their destination is reached.
The fifth-generation model benefits from a Land Rover architecture that is both strong and lightweight; delivering comfort and adaptability like no other Discovery before it.
The reveal set was made from 5,805,846 individual LEGO bricks; breaking the previous Guinness World Record by 470,646 pieces. Laid end to end, the bricks would stretch for almost 200 miles, or from Tower Bridge in London to Paris.
Led by the UK’s only LEGO Certified Professional, Duncan Titmarsh, it took five months for expert LEGO Master Builders in the UK to construct the incredible Tower Bridge structure. It was erected in the grounds of Packington Hall, Warwickshire, UK – close to the Land Rover plant in Solihull, where the all-new Discovery will be produced.
As part of the dramatic reveal sequence, British adventurer Bear Grylls appeared in typically exciting fashion by abseiling from the top of the huge Tower Bridge installation, through the open drawbridge and onto the stage beside the all-new Discovery.
The finale was Land Rover BAR Team Principal Sir Ben Ainslie driving his sailing team through 35-inch-deep water under the bridge – demonstrating the water fording capability(2) of the fifth generation Discovery. Sir Ben towed a LEGO replica of the Land Rover BAR boat, a meticulously recreated 186,500-brick model of the boat that will challenge for next year’s America’s Cup.
The model of Tower Bridge was flanked by two LEGO ‘Discovery Zones’ celebrating 27 years of Land Rover Discovery heritage. An Equestrian Zone, hosted by accomplished rider Zara Phillips, featured a typically British picnic scene made entirely from LEGO bricks. The Bear Grylls Adventure Zone included a LEGO fire and boulders to represent a scene from a typical mountain exploration.
The all-new Discovery represents the next step in the journey of transformation from cogs to code for the Land Rover brand. The latest Discovery has been designed, engineered and manufactured with the help of some of the 1,300 talented young engineers currently enrolled in the company’s leading training programs. Jaguar Land Rover is one of UK's leading recruiters of graduates and apprentices, 3,000 have joined in the past six years and 400 new recruits have started in 2016.
Bear Grylls said, “I have developed a powerful bond with Land Rover vehicles over the years and to me they embody that spirit of adventure coupled with a rugged reliability that also serves the needs of a young family. The Land Rover Discovery is invaluable on expeditions, whether filming in deserts, jungles or mountains, yet it’s still the perfect vehicle for the family's everyday use. It's a proud moment to be here with Land Rover revealing the all-new Discovery to the world.”
Emma Owen, LEGO UK and Ireland Spokeswoman, said, “We are thrilled that Jaguar Land Rover has used LEGO bricks to add some Guinness World Record-breaking creativity to the launch of the latest Discovery. This is an epic, outstanding build that absolutely captures the imagination in a way we haven't seen before. With LEGO bricks and some imagination you really can build anything!”
For full details on the all-new Land Rover Discovery visit media.landrover.com/en-us.
(1) Third row seating is an optional feature on select Discovery models.
(2) Dependent on the selected Discovery vehicle trim and options.
