Update: ‘New Discovery boss’ added.
During JLR’s annual investor day on June 17, 2026, Lennard Hoornik, the company’s Chief Growth Officer, said that the Discovery needs to be reinvented.
Hoornik highlighted that the model was originally designed from the inside out and that its unique proportions, big windows, a lot of storage spaces, a sloped roof, and an asymmetrical rear end are key to its character.
“We’re sitting on this goldmine, and we’re going to make that real,” Hoornik said. “We can’t talk about it too much yet, but really important is while we see a very high proportion of male buyers for Defender, we see a high proportion of female fans for Discovery,” he added.
New Discovery boss
Adam Constable will take charge of Discovery on September 1, 2026, marking the first time JLR has created a standalone leadership role for the brand. Constable joined JLR as the Global Head of Product Marketing for the Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division in March 2020.
Constable became JLR’s Global Head of Brand Strategy in March 2023 and then the company’s Global Strategy Director for the Range Rover brand in January 2024. He serves as the Managing Director of the new Freelander brand, jointly developed by JLR and Chery Group.
Design
The next-gen Land Rover Discovery will be the sixth generation of the versatile family SUV. The fifth-gen model is strikingly different from its predecessor, and the design of the sixth-gen model could take another detour, as it would need strong visual differentiation from the Defender.
Mark Cameron, the current Managing Director for Defender and Discovery, has said that JLR has to make sure the latter has a unique positioning, Autocar reported on August 26, 2024. The company will pitch it more strongly as a family adventure vehicle in the next generation.
The British publication says JLR may give the next-gen Discovery a slightly MPV-esque design to put a greater emphasis on its family-friendliness. It could look strikingly different from the current SUV, which, in turn, would further distinguish it from the Defender.
A clean look with a closed-off upper grille, more aerodynamic wheels, a flat roofline, and streamlined bumpers can make the car feel practical and efficient. Sleeker, digital LED lights and flush door handles could be among the new design elements of the sixth-gen model.
Interior
The interior is also expected to be a major departure from that of the current model, but the next-generation Discovery should continue to offer three rows of seats and retain its family-adventure values.
The Range Rover Sport lost the third-row option when it moved to its third generation. So, customers seeking a family-sized Range Rover have to go for the full-size Range Rover. Additionally, there’s less cannibalization for the Disco, since it belongs to the same segment as the Range Rover Sport.
Discovery customers have different space and comfort requirements from Defender customers, Hoornik suggested during JLR’s annual investor day on June 17, 2026.
JLR could try to differentiate the Discovery within the lineup through a lower step-in height, a lounge-like cabin, flexible seating with second- and third-row flat-folding seats, a softer ride, and innovative storage solutions.
Discovery is very different (from the Defender). Well, everybody in a Defender, you go with three, four, five, or six Defenders with your friends and you go out. You know, Discovery is different where everybody sits in the same car and really provide those unique values of Discovery.
Lennard Hoornik, Chief Growth Officer, JLR (Investor Day 2026 on June 17, 2026)
Specifications
EMA Platform
The next-gen Land Rover Discovery will not share the MLA-Flex platform with the latest Range Rover (L460) and Range Rover Sport (L461). Instead, it will use the EMA platform, as former JLR CEO Adrian Mardell revealed during a conversation with Auto Express in 2023. This platform is also engineered to support electric and hybrid applications.
The British magazine has received confirmation that the EMA can underpin a three-row, seven-seat vehicle.
Elektrobit/EVA Continuum
Elektrobit’s software platform and Automotive OS are set to support JLR’s EVA Continuum electrical architecture, which the company plans to use across its vehicle lineup. A common software base should make it easier to manage ECUs, enable over-the-air updates, improve cybersecurity, and add new features after launch.
Range & Charging
e-AWD with two motors, one on the front axle and one on the rear axle, could be standard in the Land Rover Discovery Electric. The power and torque figures may vary, though. It’s early to talk about the battery pack and specs at the moment, but customers will expect 300-350 miles of range (EPA).
Since the EMA is an 800V architecture, rapid charging speeds of up to 350 kW should be possible, allowing a 10-80% charge in around 20 minutes.
Heat Pump
ThermAssist, JLR’s new onboard thermal management technology, is also expected to help the Discovery EV’s range, charging performance, and winter cabin comfort.
The system, which debuts in the Range Rover BEV this year, is designed to reduce heating energy consumption by up to 40%, recover waste heat, and warm the propulsion system or cabin in temperatures as low as 14°F (-10°C).
Hybrid Version
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has adjusted its strategy for the EMA, and is engineering it to include a hybrid powertrain. Although JLR originally intended the EMA exclusively for EVs, the company is now engineering the platform to support hybrid powertrains in response to shifting demand.
We expect the next-gen Discovery to offer a hybrid version at some point during its lifecycle to give it the best chance across global markets.
Release Date
JLR will start rolling out its next range of EVs beginning with the Range Rover Electric, Range Rover Sport Electric, and Jaguar Type 01. The ‘Defender Sport/baby Defender‘ and Range Rover GT will also be EVs initially, arriving in 2027.
Following this cadence until the end of 2027, the Discovery EV should go on sale in 2028, although JLR may share a glimpse of its design and some key technical details next year. “You should expect to hear from us, future plans on Discovery, sooner rather than later,” JLR CEO PB Balaji told journalists in May 2026, as per a recent Auto Express report.
Land Rover Discovery Electric FAQs
What is the Land Rover Discovery Electric’s release date?
The Land Rover Discovery EV is expected in 2028, riding on the EMA platform.
Which models will be Land Rover Discovery Electric rivals?
The Discovery Electric would compete with the Volvo EX90 & Lexus TZ.
What will be the Land Rover Discovery Electric’s price?
The base Discovery Electric could cost around USD 70,000.
Featured Image Source: Jaguar Land Rover
International Automotive News Editor since 2014, covering global motor shows, industry events, and test-driving various vehicles, with a focus on hybrid and electric cars in recent years.
