Gerry McGovern, a name that sparks controversy amongst die-hard Land Rover fans as someone who is willing to harangue anyone who doesn't appreciate his own visionary outlook. That would be fine with us, if perhaps, just once in a while, he would humbly accept that things he's designed haven't quite worked out, for whatever reason. But alas no. His latest outburst is targeted squarely at the large number of naysayers who aren't taken by the asymmetrical Discovery 5 rear-end styling. And who is to blame? Land Rover dealers apparently.

You see, Gerry attests that the Discovery 5 tailgate-gate is compounded by the dealers choice of number plates. Really Gerry?

AutoExpress quoted Mr McGovern as saying “You know what part of the problem is with that offset plate? It depends on what number plate you put on it. And it was designed for a slimmer number plate."

We're calling him out on this statement. Because here, fitted to one of Land Rover's very own press vehicles, is the largest possible registration plate.

Land Rover Discovery 2017 - Could you possibly find a larger number plate?

Gerry also attests that the Euro symbol number plates ruin his design, I mean, did nobody think about the actual plates that would be fitted? 

McGovern continued, “Overall, I like the design of the back of the Discovery for its asymmetry, because it’s tipping its hat to the Discoveries of the past. I think what’s happened is that there’s a whole variety of number plates. We’ve got a study going on at the moment and I don’t want to change that asymmetry, but we do need to do something about the number plates.“

McGovern is pleased by his asymmetrical styling. The problem with it is though, it's inconsistent. As one commenter pointed out, the rear-end is very symmetrical and the off centre registration plate is more of an aberration, appearing like a slip of the pen when doodling that somehow made it's way through to the manufacturing process. Fear not, because although Gerry says he doesn't want to change the styling and instead will conduct a pointless study into what's gone wrong, we will fix it.

The main problem, as we stated above, is there's not enough asymmetrical design cues, like Discoveries of old. The fix is relatively simple, at least in design terms.

Discovery 5 - Current

Land Rover Discovery 2017

Discovery 4

The Solution

You're welcome internet. Land Rover, if you want to hire me, for my logical and thoughtful approach to car design, get in touch!

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