Having jumped from a plane with six members of the Royal Navy Parachute Display Team and freefalling at 125mph, Grylls was able to change the vehicle’s seating layout at the touch of a button on his smartphone before he had to deploy his parachute. The Intelligent Seat Fold technology allows the two rear rows of seats to be fully reconfigured in as little as 14 seconds via the app.
“For the remote function to work while we are freefalling from a plane is pretty cool,” said Grylls. “I’m not sure many people will be using it in such a manner but the technology to operate the car remotely in this way will undoubtedly be a real winner for busy families who want to be prepared.”
Alex Heslop, Land Rover’s chief engineer for Discovery, said: “The fact that owners can change the seating while doing things like queuing with their shopping is a milestone in convenience delivered through technological innovation.”
The Intelligent Seat Fold technology can be activated in four different ways, including the remote function tried and tested by Grylls. Closer to the ground, switches within the luggage area and on the C-pillar allow the seats to be moved or folded while standing beside the vehicle. Row two and three seats can also be raised and lowered using the main touchscreen display on the dashboard.
The InControl Remote app is claimed to allow owners to connect with their car from anywhere in the world, making it possible to perform a variety of functions: From confirming all the windows are closed or checking the fuel level to setting the air conditioning or monitoring its location.