Automobile Division Yorkshire Centre
Huddersfield University, on Tuesday 27 October 2015.
Speaker: Nick Veale CEng FIMechE
Architecture Chief Engineer, Vehicle Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover
Almost 90 members and visitors gathered at the University of Huddersfield for a fascinating technical lecture on the architecture, attributes, packaging, seating, powertrains and infotainment systems that gives the new Discovery Sport a class-leading position in premium compact SUVs. The speaker brought a sparkling new example of the car for attendees to look over before and after the lecture.
Centre Chairman, Steve Smith of Cummins Turbo Technologies, introduced Nick Veale, who joined Jaguar in 1988 after being a sponsored student and post-graduate with Austin Rover for 8 years. He has been responsible for vehicle engineering targets and attributes on JLR vehicles since 2008 and oversaw Discovery Sport from concept to production.
His lecture included details of the features that keep the all-terrain ability of all Land Rover vehicles (up to 27° tilt and 45° gradient) thanks to Land Rover’s patented Terrain Response system, whilst incorporating high levels of practicality and vehicle refinement. Based on the Evoque platform, a development of the Freelander 2 that the Discovery Sport replaces, the chassis is all new behind the A posts with Aluminium bonnet, roof and tailgate, 20% high-strength Boron steel and an all-new multilink rear suspension. The new suspension is key to accommodating both 5-seat and 5+2 arrangements, giving 1100 mm wide loading area and, critically, room for a spare wheel – a must-have in some markets where being stuck can be a life-or-death situation. Within a compact length of 4·6m and a Cd of 0·36, Discovery Sport gives capacity, seating options and ground clearance within overall dimensions which JLR benchmark data shows that no other rival can match in all aspects.
Launched with the carry-over petrol and DW12 2·2L Diesel engines from Freelander and Evoque, JLR has now introduced its own 2·0L Ingenium Diesel engine with 1800 Bar common rail injection, EU6 emission compliance and 227g/kWh BSFC thanks to a raft of friction reduction measures; the engine is 24kg lighter than the engine it replaces, which more than compensates for the additional SCR, Urea injection tank/system and cooled EGR that are necessary to meet the stringent emission standard.
All three rows of passengers enjoy good views ahead thanks to stadium seating design and options can provide face-level ventilation and access to USB charging points for all occupants, an increasingly important feature. Discovery Sport can also support 3G Internet access for up to 5 devices and has emergency assist call buttons built-in. The infotainment system also includes remote vehicle status (lock/unlocked, window open, etc.) on phone or tablet and journey records including fuel economy and trip-computer highlights. Other technology and convenience features include automatic high beam and automatic emergency braking (which interestingly recognises vehicles so does not work when owners try to test it on cardboard boxes), torque vectoring by braking and an optional “Active Drive” that makes the vehicle fully 2WD for enhanced fuel economy, returning to 4WD within 300mS when needed. All these technical features were explained, not as a sales talk but with the “why” and “how” that only a top engineer could describe. The rigorous test programme was illustrated using dramatic videos showing the car in many countries, test conditions, surfaces and extremes of punishing manoeuvres which Discovery Sport came through along its development, validating the simulation of crash, aerodynamics, NVH and even dirt/water accumulation that Nick Veale explained as part of his illustrated lecture.
There followed a wide-ranging and animated Q&A including a debate on the merits of driver assist systems, the challenges of spare wheel packaging and the way a car with 50% new parts is launched.
Centre committee member and past Automobile Division Chairman, Eur Ing Dr. Chris Bale, proposed the vote of thanks and Steve Smith presented Mr Veale with an IMechE tankard engraved to mark the occasion.
