Land Rover has appeared as the first global partner of Virgin Galactic after unveiling the new Discovery Vision Concept car alongside a replica of the world’s first commercial spaceship.
The event took place against the backdrop of SpaceShipTwo, on board the USS Intrepid. The former aircraft carrier, anchored on the Hudson River, is now a museum dedicated to the exploration of sea, air and space.
The car’s interior contains two type of hardy and easy-to-clean Foglizzo leather. The wood veneered flooring and instrument panel compliment the Harris Tweed, ensuring the Land Rover maintains a quintessential British aesthetic.
The partnership comes a day ahead of the opening of the New York Auto Show 2014 and is set to see Land Rover vehicles become a regular fixture for the Virgin Galactic team.
The British carmaker will base a fleet of vehicles at the Mojave Desert test centre, as well as Spaceport America in New Mexico. The Discovery Vision Concept will be on display at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday 16th April.
TRANSPARENT BONNET
The Discovery Vision Concept also boasts new customer-focused advanced technology, in the form of the Transparent Bonnet.
The pioneering technology allows greater driver awareness with a ‘see-through’ augmented reality view of the terrain ahead, meaning the front of the car is invisible from the driver's perspective.
Cameras located in the vehicle’s grille capture visual data, which is linked to the windscreen display.
“Discovery has been pivotal in helping to build the foundations of the Land Rover brand. It is admired all over the world and loved by its strong customer base," said Gerry McGovern, design director and chief creative officer.
"We have created the Vision Concept to share the essence of Land Rover’s new age of Discovery and to debut a new, compelling, relevant design direction that connects on an emotional level with customers of today and tomorrow,” he added.