New Land Rover Discovery Sport has arrived at the 2014 Paris Motor Show

The new Discovery Sport has made its public debut in true Land Rover style. Ahead of its Paris Motor Show outing, the vehicle made its debut aboard a long barge on a river in central Paris to mark the arrival of Land Rover’s new premium mid-size SUV.  

First previewed with the Discovery Vision concept and then as a scale model, the Discovery Sport has now officially made its public debut. It is the first member of the new Discovery family and features a versatile 5+2 seating.

The design of the Discovery Sport echoes the Range Rover Evoque, thanks to its twin-slat grille, chunky front bumper, LED fog lamps and a stylish pair of headlights and taillights. Inside, the cabin features high-quality materials and a vertical centre console layout to reflect the design of the exterior, while the core Discovery value of practicality is evident everywhere. A host of innovations have allowed Discovery Sport to have the versatility of a 5+2 seating. Thanks to a new multi-link rear axle, Land Rover has managed to offer ample cabin space even behind the second row.

Being a Land Rover, it is hardly surprising that the Discovery Sport promises to be a capable off-roader. Featuring an advanced Terrain Response technology, four -wheel drive and 211mm of ground clearance, the Discovery Sport is apt for tough terrain conditions.

Underneath the all-new body shell, 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 feature stop-start technology, direct injection and smart regenerative charging for optimum performance and economy. Later next year, 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.

The Discovery Sport will be produced at Land Rover’s Liverpool manufacturing facility. It will go on sale in early 2015 alongside the existing seven-seater Discovery in over 170 markets worldwide. Expect Land Rover to sell the new Discovery Sport also in India starting late next year.