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The next time that someone says SUVs are too big and too pointless, guide them in the direction of this. It's the Land Rover Discovery 'Project Hero', a concept car, almost uniquely not developed for the Nürburgring, but in association with the Austrian Red Cross as a mountain rescue vehicle.
Based on the standard 3.0-litre TDV6 Discovery, the Project Hero uses a roof-mounted drone that can be sent to carry out an aerial search of mountainside, looking for stuck climbers. Using a magnet, the drone lands itself securely on the Disco's roof when not in use and when it's airborne it can transmit live video feed to hand-held devices being used by the rescue team.
In the back of the Discovery, there's a slide-out floor, which can be used as a work surface, while there are mounting points for search and rescue equipment and power points that can accept plug types from all countries.
Starting this year, the Project Hero will be based in Erzberg, with the Austrian Red Cross for training and evaluation. Land Rover hopes that the model can be rolled out for use with other Red Cross teams, assisting in disaster areas all over the world.
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Head of Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations team (SVO, which created the car), John Edwards said: "Land Rover and the team of engineers and designers at SVO are proud to support the incredible humanitarian work of the IFRC [International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies] and its members. Project Hero is the optimum combination of enhanced capability and innovative technology. We hope to help the Red Cross save lives in emergency situations."