In an attempt to demonstrate the ability of high torque, Land Rover coupled its Discovery Sport SUV to three train carriages weighing more than 100 tonnes along a railway track. The SUV towed the three train carriages, which was nearly 60 times its weight, in a 10km journey at the Museumsbahn Stein am Rhein in northern Switzerland.
The Discovery Sport pulled the massive weight despite having the certified towing limit of 2.5 tonnes. The SUV is powered by 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engine that develops 177bhp and 430Nm of torque. The only modification in the SUV for the stunt was the fitment of rail wheels. The Discovery Sport that performed the stunt benefitted from Terrain Response, Tow Assist, Tow Hitch Assist and All Terrain Progress Control — a semi-autonomous off-road driving system that automatically manages engine output and braking.
According to Land Rover, the stunt has been conducted to show the strength and capability of the Discovery Sport, echoing a similar feat performed in 1989 for the launch of its ancestor, Discovery I.
During the journey, the Discovery Sport pulled a train crossing the River Rhine on the Hemishofen bridge — a historic steel bridge measuring 935 feet long and soaring 85 feet high. Land Rover previously used the Discovery I in 1989 towing a series of carriages in Plymouth.
