Discovery 3 sets new standards as lead SUV in Raid Expedition
MTI Automotive sole importer of Sports Utility Vehicle in Egypt
In an expedition that spanned ten days and covered the Great Sand Sea, renowned adventurer Hesham Nessim tackled the harshest terrains Egypt could offer in the Discovery 3 - the award-winning and extremely capable family SUV from Land Rover.
MTI Automotive, the exclusive importer of Land Rover vehicles in Egypt, supported the Raid Expedition by providing five Discovery 3's. Offering dynamic on-road and class leading off-road capability, the Discovery 3 has a number of technological innovations that ensure easy manoeuvrability on any terrain; suitable for the challenging environment Nessim faced during his expedition.
Organized by Aquasun Expedition, the Raid Expedition was an adventure through the wilderness of Egypt, discovering the country’s natural beauty and exploring its less traveled areas.
“This was a great experience for me, both in terms of what we accomplished, and experiencing the Discovery's exceptional breadth of capability first hand,” stated Nessim. “We set out to do some pretty unique challenges on this expedition, and I’m very satisfied that we were able to accomplish them by driving the Discovery 3.”
Besides surviving in the desert for ten days, the team took the Discovery 3 to the top of Mount Genina, approximately 1620 meters high. The goal was to reach the highest point that a vehicle possibly could – an easy task for the Discovery 3, which has undergone the most rigorous testing of any Land Rover vehicle yet.
Driving the correct vehicle for the journey was vital and choosing the Discovery 3 as the lead vehicle was the natural choice. Nessim and his team successfully reached the top of the mountain, despite dealing with challenging terrain, high angles, and a path that was filled with slippery sands and stones. The Terrain response system on the Discovery 3 was put to the test and proved easy to use with its intuitive controls. The Terrain Response optimizes drivability and comfort, and maximizes traction. The driver simply chooses one of five terrain settings via a rotary switch on the centre console and the Terrain Response then automatically selects the most appropriate setting for the vehicle’s advanced electronic controls and traction aids. The settings include ride height, engine torque response, hill descent control, electronic traction control and transmission settings.
The area that the expedition traveled through was daunting. Roughly six hundred thousand square km (nearly the size of France), The Great Sand Sea is considered the largest field of sand dunes in the world. Located at the western border of Egypt, it extends for over 700km, from the Siwa Oasis in the north to The Gilf Kebir plateau in the south, and 350 km from Farafra Oasis in the east to the Libyan border in the west.
Filled with thousands of sand dunes, some with heights up to 250 meters, the area’s rugged terrain has acted as a natural barrier protecting Egypt from the west. While tackling these obstacles, the Discovery 3’s not only had to carry their passengers, but enough fuel for the ten day trek.
The team’s hard work was rewarded as they were able to view some of the most breathtaking sights that Egypt has to offer. “This trip was special because we were able to view some areas that so few humans have ever seen,” noted Nessim. “When you get out that far, things can start feeling a little overwhelming, but the incredible views and pristine beauty of the desert made everything worth it. Gazing at the countless dunes as they reflected various colors and shadows put us in awe of this untouched area of land. It was a truly remarkable experience, and I’m thankful that the Discovery 3 helped us get there.”
Discovery 3’s bold, distinctive design, as well as its blend of power and performance ensured a smooth drive, whilst the spacious and comfortable interior was ideal for the team.
The Discovery 3 proved instrumental in the expedition with every team member marveling at its capabilities. “The SUVs super suspension and bold performance were unmatched,” stated Nessim. “The handling was remarkable, and I really enjoyed using the technologies the Discovery 3 is equipped with. I felt completely confident that I could reach anywhere I wanted and experience no equipment problems.”
As the sole importer of Land Rover in Egypt, MTI was proud to have provided the Raid Expedition with the Discovery 3s. “If we know that the Discovery 3 can handle the type of abuse that Nessim put it through, we know it can handle the demands of our customers,” stated MTI General Manager Ahmed El Gharib. “We’re proud to provide such an amazing, durable vehicle to our clients, one that can tackle any environment in our country.”
Land Rover produces the worlds finest all terrain vehicles and now has the strongest product line-up with five distinct models: The Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Discovery 3, Freelander and Defender. These premium models offer customers a choice of products that are sophisticated, technologically advanced, and suitable for all driving expectations.
As a bold, confident SUV, backed by MTI’s famous service, the Discovery 3 will continue to blaze new trails in the Egyptian market.
