P38A Shame the p38a never got ACE and HDC... why?

As the Discovery 2 was introduced in 1998 with not only 4 wheel traction control, but also Hill Descent Control (taken from the Freelander 1997). And the inclusion of ACE (Active Cornering Enhancement).

It's such as shame that they didn't include these on the 1999 revamp of the p38a Range Rover.

Was it just laziness on Land Rover's part, or was there a real world reason for it?

They included the 4 wheel traction control as part of the '99 changes. So you'd think HDC would have been an easy add on (maybe it still is -- can it be retro fitted?).

And while the p38a handles well enough, surely ACE would have made it even better?

Little point in tooling up for it considering the L322 was planned in the mid 90's.....the Disco 2 and Freebie were testbeds for the gear to make it on to the flagship model in the early 2000's.....

Would not have been a cost effective exercise to put in on the outgoing - out-dated model.

OMG, isn't there enough to go wrong with R/R's

I suppose, but then wouldn't that same rational suit for the 4 wheel traction control?

4 wheel T/C wasn't that hard of a task as it already had ABS. The RR has a hill decent gear in low range, which pretty much did the same thing. As for cornering, if you're that keen, I know a guy from Overfinch (he is a civvie instructor for T'Armeh now) who designed a system for the P38 that would deflate the inside airbags when cornering to overcome bodyroll and it is a system you can still buy from them, if you're so inclined. Not sure how well it'd cope with corners in quick succession, but he said it worked well considering the limitations of the EAS system.

got to agree with op ACE is pretty awsome

Bix said:

4 wheel T/C wasn't that hard of a task as it already had ABS. The RR has a hill decent gear in low range, which pretty much did the same thing. As for cornering, if you're that keen, I know a guy from Overfinch (he is a civvie instructor for T'Armeh now) who designed a system for the P38 that would deflate the inside airbags when cornering to overcome bodyroll and it is a system you can still buy from them, if you're so inclined. Not sure how well it'd cope with corners in quick succession, but he said it worked well considering the limitations of the EAS system.

Click to expand...

Ta. The low gear manual mode locks the torque converter up as far as I know. So not at all like HDC.

Thought HDC was the work round for not giving the freelander a low range gearbox? Didn't some early disco 2's not have low range hence the hdc fitment? Latest stuff has it because, again, no low range.

ady014 said:

Thought HDC was the work round for not giving the freelander a low range gearbox? Didn't some early disco 2's not have low range hence the hdc fitment? Latest stuff has it because, again, no low range.

Click to expand...

no, all d2s have low range not all have diff lock, diff lock deemed unnecessary because of t/c

Wouldn't have thought there's any need for HDC with a low range box?

ady014 said:

Thought HDC was the work round for not giving the freelander a low range gearbox? Didn't some early disco 2's not have low range hence the hdc fitment? Latest stuff has it because, again, no low range.

Click to expand...

HDC certainly aids the Freelander off road. However all D2's have low range. As do things like the D3, D4, L322 Range Rover, RRS and current RRS/FFRR. But they also have HDC. Vehicles using the Jag based electronics have driver controllable variable speed HDC.

domino said:

Wouldn't have thought there's any need for HDC with a low range box?

Click to expand...

It can be useful. In part to simply help keep a vehicle straight when going down hill, low range and open diffs can cause the back to move about more. That's why if you have a rear locker, you'd use it on descents.

300bhp/ton said:

HDC certainly aids the Freelander off road. However all D2's have low range. As do things like the D3, D4, L322 Range Rover, RRS and current RRS/FFRR. But they also have HDC. Vehicles using the Jag based electronics have driver controllable variable speed HDC.

Click to expand...

Think the Freelander needs all the help it can get off road to be honest.