Land Rover Discovery Sport officially revealed

Land Rover has officially taken the covers off the new Discovery Sport. First previewed with the Discovery Vision concept and then as a scale model, the Discovery Sport has now been officially shown. Being the first member of the new Discovery family, the Discovery Sport features 5+2 seating in a rather compact footprint. 

Design wise, the vehicle echoes the Range Rover Evoque, with its twin-slat grille, chunky front bumper, LED fog lamps and a stylish pair of headlights and taillights. Even in the pictures, the new Discovery Sport looks remarkably compact for a seven seater mid-size SUV. 

Land Rover says the interior has been designed with customers at its core. It features high-quality materials and a vertical centre console layout to reflect the design of the exterior, while the core Discovery value of versatility is evident everywhere. A host of innovations have allowed Discovery Sport to have the versatility of 5+2 seating. A new multi-link rear axle not only improves driving dynamics but also provides ample and flexible cabin space behind the second row. 

Contrary to previous reports which suggested that the Discovery Sport will make use of the all-new iQ [Al] platform, Land Rover has revealed that this new model is based on a heavily modified platform that currently underpins the Freelander and the Range Rover Evoque. The regular Discovery 4, on the other hand, uses two seperate chassis - a monocoque for the engine bay and passenger shell and a basic ladder frame for the gearbox and suspension. 

Expectedly, the vehicle promises a lot even off the road. There’s Land Rover’s capable Terrain Response technology, four wheel drive and 211mm of ground clearance, making the Discovery Sport apt for tough terrain conditions. 

The Discovery Sport will initially be equipped with a range of four-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. Both the Si4 2-litre petrol engine and the 2.2-litre turbodiesel featuring stop-start technology, direct injection and smart regenerative charging for optimum performance and economy. Later in 2015, a highly efficient ED4 turbodiesel engine will join the range, the company has revealed. Both 9-speed automatic and 6-speed manual gearbox are available, in both two and four-wheel drive configurations.

Land Rover has made it official that the Discovery Sport will be produced at the company’s Liverpool manufacturing facility. The vehicle will go on sale in early 2015 alongside the existing seven-seater  Discovery. We expect Land Rover to sell this new Discovery Sport in India late next year.