Improving on the D4... designing the D5.

**RoverLander** · 18th June 2010, 09:29 PM

If you could sit with the LR Engineer who is designing the D5 what improvements or changes would you ask them to make?

I've now owned my D4 3.0 TDV6 HSE for 4 weeks and here is where I would start. I love my car and some of these suggestions are trivial... but hey why not ask?

Gear Display: I want to know what gear the auto box is in when in Drive. Please add the gear number next to the D on the display screen. (ie D1, D2 etc)
Spare tyre access without unloading: I’m not looking forward to the day where I have a fully loaded car on a rainy day on a muddy road. Everything will have to be unpacked to allow me to raise the back seats so I can get at the spare wheel lowering nut. Can this be located elsewhere or accessed from the rear. It still needs to be secure.
Air filter accessible via clips (not screws). If I’m going to be doing it regularly on a trip then I want it to be easy and tool free.
Trip Computer: Cycle through trip computer readouts. Currently you have to go back to vehicle set up menu to get to the trip A, B or Auto settings. Can I have two lines displayed with say Trip A or B and Auto.
GPS functionality: Mentioned in another recent post. It is difficult to use and lacks many of the functions in a windscreen mounted unit you can now purchase for around $200. Map updates for these units are around $100. I won’t be paying the $300 LR asks for an update.
Rework the plastic side covers in the rear cargo area to maximise storage space.
Auto hold use of electronic parking brake. I have this on my Passat. Once selected the car automatically turns on the electronic park brake everytime the car comes to a complete stop. You can then take your foot of the brake and simply drive off when the traffic starts to flow.
Glasses holder in upper roof area. I can’t find anywhere easy to access from the drivers seat to store my sunnies.

There is a start. I will add more as I think of them. I'll be interested to see what others suggest... but dont mention wheels

**rmp** · 18th June 2010, 10:10 PM

For the D4:

No restrictions on any height settings. My car, my life, I'll drive at 200km/h at offroad height if I want.

Manual overrides for all electronic settings eg centre diff lock

Anything I set stays set, no computer sneaking around behind my back.

More space under the bonnet (a la D3)

Option for 17" rims

The new Vogue TDV8 engine and transmission

Larger display for TR settings on the centre dash

Seperate displays for media and nav/info

The Vogue's dual/single screen display

Front e-locker

A detailed technical manual explaining all sorts of things about how it works so we don't need to guess

Rocksliders

Field replaceable units like aircraft. Blown ECU? Pull it out, pop in another, gone and done. You'd carry spares like you do tyres and hoses.

Some vague idea WTF is happening in the event of an error so the driver can make an informed decision instead of the car having a panic attack and deciding it's too ill to do anything.

that'll do for the moment.

I like all the original ideas as well. X 2.

**ADMIRAL** · 18th June 2010, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by rmp

For the D4:

No restrictions on any height settings. My car, my life, I'll drive at 200km/h at offroad height if I want.

Manual overrides for all electronic settings eg centre diff lock

Anything I set stays set, no computer sneaking around behind my back.

More space under the bonnet (a la D3)

Option for 17" rims

The new Vogue TDV8 engine and transmission

Larger display for TR settings on the centre dash

Seperate displays for media and nav/info

The Vogue's dual/single screen display

Front e-locker

A detailed technical manual explaining all sorts of things about how it works so we don't need to guess

Rocksliders

Field replaceable units like aircraft. Blown ECU? Pull it out, pop in another, gone and done. You'd carry spares like you do tyres and hoses.

Some vague idea WTF is happening in the event of an error so the driver can make an informed decision instead of the car having a panic attack and deciding it's too ill to do anything.

that'll do for the moment.

I like all the original ideas as well. X 2.

Sounds great....but would it be affordable. A D5 at $170000.00. I would stay with just affordable, and the many compromises. Perhaps something achievable such as accessories at less than 10% of the value of the vehicle.
On second thoughts...............unrestricted speed at any height. Yes I would pay for that. 17" rims ..? I think we are dreaming.

**Graeme** · 19th June 2010, 06:21 AM

Originally Posted by ADMIRAL

...unrestricted speed at any height. Yes I would pay for that. ........ ..? I think we are dreaming.

Nah, not dreaming.

Soon you will be able to buy a plug-in module that allows urestricted speed raised to off-road or 60% off-road, or lowered to access or 60% access, or off-road or 60% access, or access or 60% off-road, or even your own max height or 60% of that. Both the RRS and D3/4 drivers should be happy!

**Disco4SE** · 19th June 2010, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by Graeme

Nah, not dreaming.

Soon you will be able to buy a plug-in module that allows urestricted speed raised to off-road or 60% off-road, or lowered to access or 60% access, or off-road or 60% access, or access or 60% off-road, or even your own max height or 60% of that. Both the RRS and D3/4 drivers should be happy!

Graeme, I would imagine this would greatly effect your warranty, as the handling, braking etc of the vehicle has been set up at the standard ride height.
I couldnt imagine hooking in to a long sweeping bend at 100Kph and expecting it to handle as if it were at standard height.
Having said this, I agree........it would be good if it were not limited to 40Kph.
Cheers, Craig

**Neil P** · 19th June 2010, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by RoverLander

....Spare tyre access without unloading .... raise the back seats so I can get at the spare wheel lowering nut ...

You never have to raise the seats , after a 2 min. mod .

......... doesn't your D4 hold on a hill , my D3 copes well with a 1:3 .......

**rmp** · 19th June 2010, 06:49 AM

It's warn at 40 lower at 50.

For those with D3s older than 3 years who cares about warranty!

Graeme....love your work!

**Neil P** · 19th June 2010, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by Graeme

...Nah, not dreaming...

Don't let LRA discover your Identity or location ; CaverD3 was
contacted by their Legal Team ..............

**rmp** · 19th June 2010, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by Neil P

Don't let LRA discover your Identity or location ; CaverD3 was
contacted by their Legal Team ..............

....and he still seems to be walking and talking.

**Neil P** · 19th June 2010, 07:05 AM

... and using alot of toilet paper

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