The ultimate tow test: pushing the Land Rover Discovery Sport to its limits

Land Rover crafted a traction champion in the Discovery Sport. It featured a slew of cutting-edge technologies, from terrain response to all terrain progress control, as well as tow and tow hitch assist capabilities. To show this functionality to the world, they asked us to remake the famous ‘train pull’ stunt that had launched the original Discovery back in 1989, and prove to the global press that the new SUV was even more capable than its predecessor.

We took a film crew and photographer to the Rhine region in northern Switzerland to put the Discovery Sport’s pulling power to the ultimate test: pulling three luxury train carriages weighing a combined 108 tonnes over a 10km journey. For maximum wow-factor, our route included the crossing of the River Rhine on the Hemisofen Railway Bridge, a historic steel span measuring 935ft long and soaring 85ft above the valley floor. The Discovery was fitted with rail wheels to act as ‘stabilisers’ on the narrow tracks, and used the All Terrain Progress Control system to maximise traction and pull the equivalent of a Boeing-757 airplane across the bridge.

The jaw dropping cinematic film and stills we produced showcased both the scale and drama of the incredible feat as well as providing an intimate look at the semi-autonomous technologies in use through close-ups and onboard footage. The film was highly successful on Land Rover’s YouTube channel, registering views well in excess of 1.5 million, and generated press coverage in print and online channels worldwide.