The Discovery Sport SUV provided stiff competition for
Finnish middle distance champion, Laura Kääriäinen and her team of six sled
dogs. They went head-to-head in Vesileppis Ski Tunnel, Finland, in a unique 1km
sprint around the dedicated underground tunnel.
The undulating tunnel is carved into the bedrock 35m
below ground level and kept at constant -2°C to maintain a blanket of snow 20mm
deep throughout the summer, making it the perfect place to put the Discovery
Sport’s all-terrain capability to the test.
Setting off in opposite directions, the dogs had a
straightforward task. Once they had negotiated the first incline they were able
to pick up and maintain speed – typically around 35km/h. In contrast, the
Discovery Sport’s path was blocked by a set of ice blocks, which put its wheel
articulation and traction control systems to the test, on one of its laps.
Over two laps of the tunnel, the sled team and Discovery
Sport were closely matched but the Land Rover, which was forced to negotiate a
set of unique ice obstacles along the way, won the unique challenge by a dog’s
hair!
Driver Karl
Richards, Lead Engineer for Stability Control Systems at Jaguar Land Rover,
said: “Snow is one of the most demanding surfaces drivers will encounter during
winter around the world and Discovery Sport proved to be as comfortable in
these conditions as the dogs. Land Rover’s advanced Terrain Response technology
and intelligent four-wheel drive system ensure our premium compact SUV is in a
class of its own when it comes to off-road driving – whether you’ve got two
legs or four.”
Before the race,
the Discovery Sport’s dedicated accessories ensured that lead husky Jami was
safely transported to the snow tunnel to join his snow-starved pack. Land
Rover’s full height luggage divider prevents pets from accessing the passenger
compartment and easily fits into anchor points inside the vehicle, while a
durable rubber boot mat protects the boot floor and even contains minor spills.
Convenience
features including Land Rover’s Gesture Tailgate made easy work of getting Jami
in and out of the premium compact SUV while the Surrround Camera System,
accessed through the 10-inch central touchscreen, allowed driver Richards to
keep an eye on the dogs when manoeuvring inside the tunnel.
Source: Land Rover