Currently reading: Land Rover SVO creates bespoke Red Cross Discovery

Tailor-made creation will serve as a mobile command centre for the Austrian Red Cross

Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations division has created a customised Land Rover Discovery that will become part of the Red Cross’s emergency response fleet.

The bespoke machine is the result of an 18-month collaboration between the British firm and the Austrian arm of the humanitarian organisation. It has been developed as a mobile command centre and includes a state-of-the-art communication system and a special drone. It is a development of the Project Hero concept car shown last year.

The Discovery, fitted with a 3.0-litre TD6 engine, will act as a mobile nerve centre from which the Austrian Red Cross can direct rescue operations. It also includes four radio antennae and 360deg lighting, to ensure easier co-ordination of emergency responses.

The eight-rotor drone is designed to be stored within the Discovery and includes a long-range thermal imaging camera capable of spotting a person from up to 440 metres away.

Land Rover has a long relationship with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, having first provided a vehicle to the organisation for use in the deserts of Dubai in 1954. Since then, Land Rover has donated more than 120 vehicles for various purposes.

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James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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