Details Of King Charles III's Ksh7.5 Million Land Rover

The highly-anticipated visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom (UK) to Kenya for a four-day State Visit began in full swing, marking this his first visit to a Commonwealth country as British Royalty. 

The Royal Couple were honoured with a 21-gun salute at State House after they arrived in the country on Monday night, October 30 for the visit aimed at celebrating the warm relationship between the two countries and the strong and dynamic partnership they continue to forge.

However, in comparison to the fuel-guzzling Toyota Land Cruisers that other leaders use while they slip through Nairobi to other destinations within the city and the country, King Charles III chose a conventional method of travel which is a stark contrast to the dazzling royal convoy that lit up his coronation in London back in May.

His Majesty and Queen Camilla have been riding through Nairobi in a Land Rover Discovery 4, a car preferred by the King owing to his support as a proud Englishman for Jaguar Land Rover, a British multinational automobile manufacturer with showrooms in Kenya.

The Land Rover Discovery vehicle used by King Charles III and Queen Camilla during their state visit on October 31, 2023. /THE STAR

Viral Tea takes a look at the features of the Discovery 4:

Features

The Land Rover Discovery is a large 4×4 manufactured in the United Kingdom by the Land Rover company. In Kenya, it competes with the likes of Toyota Prado, Mitsubishi Pajero, Nissan Pathfinder, and Ford Everest. 

The SUV is one of the most iconic and functional 4x4s in the world today; that is, it can haul 7 full-sized adults through rough terrain in absolute comfort. It blends the luxuriousness of the Range Rover with the toughness of the Defender into one exciting package.

It comes in four trim levels:

1. Land Rover Discovery 4 GS (Previously known as S)
   This is the entry-level model that comes with 7 seats (all cloth), Air Suspension, All Terrain Response system(For selecting off-road driving modes), Climate Control, All electric windows, rear parking sensors, Electronic Stability Program(ESP), Bluetooth, CD Player with a non-touch monitor and 18 Inch alloy wheels
2. Land Rover Discovery 4 XS (Previously known as SE)
   Its got all the equipment as the GS plus leather seats, satellite navigation, a touchscreen monitor, cruise control and a 3-panel sunroof
3. Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE
   Its got all the equipment as the XS Plus Windsor leather seats, Harman Kardon sound system, lacquer veneers, reversing camera, mood lighting and advanced climate control.
4. Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE Luxury
   It builds on the HSE with a Surround Sound Audio System, Rear Screen Entertainment, 20-inch alloy wheels, Santorini Black paint, Silver roof rails, special stitch leather, privacy glass, heated steering and a cooler box.

The Discovery 4 is known and loved for its off-road capabilities and its ability to get work done, starting with a 3,500kg towing capacity. Drivers love the high seating position that allows them to see far beyond the cars in front of them as well as the level of comfort that Land Rover is known for.

Star billing on the Land Rover Discovery 4 goes to the highly efficient and refined new LR-TDV6 3.0 twin-turbo diesel engine. This delivers a 9 per cent fuel economy improvement (EU combined cycle) and 10 per cent fewer CO2 emissions, at the same time as increasing power by 29 per cent, all compared with the existing 2.7-litre engine.

Torque increases even more, up 36 per cent to 600Nm - believed to be the highest torque output of any 6-cylinder, production diesel, passenger vehicle engine in the world.

The power and torque are both accessible across the entire rev range, to deliver immediate throttle response and effortless cruising ability. The results include a 0-100 km/h in 9.6 seconds, a 24 per cent improvement over the 2.7-litre.

Land Rover's engineers also transformed the on-road ride and handling for the new generation Land Rover Discovery 4 and even improved on the near-legendary off-road capabilities of its predecessor. The comprehensive changes include new suspension components, revised steering, larger brakes, improved traction control, and enhancements to the award-winning Terrain ResponseTM system, which helps optimise the vehicle for virtually all on-road or off-road driving situations.

The iconic exterior design has smoother and simpler surfaces at the front, including a new, more aerodynamic bumper. The sportier new lights help give the vehicle a new character and include LED technology front and rear and the sophisticated new front headlights include High Beam Assist, switching on or off, as conditions require.

Interior of the Land Rover Discovery 4. /AUTO TRADER

The interior is completely redesigned, with a transformed dash and centre console, new seats and an array of user-friendly features.

"The new interior not only has a much more premium look and feel but it's also gained improvement to its functionality. The new console inclines towards the driver, the switchgear and controls fall more readily to hand, and new LED Interior Mood Lighting on HSE models helps make the cabin a more pleasant and more easily used space after dark. We've made the interior environment more premium too, with smoother surfaces, softer materials and close attention to critical details such as stitching," Gerry McGovern, Design Director, was quoted by NetCarShow.com.

Some of the features available for the Discovery 4 include a Portable Audio Interface, DAB radio, a new five-camera 'surround' system, for easier parking and towing, and a new key system which offers Keyless Entry and Push Button Start.

The Discovery is also packed with features aimed at reducing fuel consumption and reducing CO2 emissions. The LR-TDV6 3.0 Sequential Turbo Diesel engine was designed from the outset to deliver class-leading fuel economy and improved low-end torque.

The parallel sequential turbocharging system of the 3.0-litre diesel makes use of its larger, primary turbo most of the time. The smaller secondary turbo remains dormant when higher power is not required, reducing pumping losses and consequently, fuel consumption.

A highly efficient, third-generation common rail injection system with piezo injectors and fuel metering, also makes a substantial contribution to fuel economy.

Depending on the car dealer, some models of the Discovery 4 can be priced up to Ksh7.5 million. King Charles III's deep blue in colour Disco is a 2993cc diesel engine tinted at the rear windows, most probably where he sits.

The high-end vehicle was visible during their visit to State House, Nairobi and when the royals toured the Eastlands library on Tuesday afternoon, October 31 accompanied by security with riders leading.

This Discovery also had a red registration number plate, a key feature for vehicles driven on Kenyan roads to either mean that the vehicle is owned by a foreign embassy (British High Commission in Kenya, in this case,) or an international agency. The red plates are called diplomatic number plates.

King Charles III during his visit to the tomb of unknown warrior at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi on October 31, 2023. /PCS