British luxury SUV manufacturer, Land Rover has revealed the latest addition in its line-up, the new Discovery Sport. The first member of the new Discovery family, Discovery Sport, features 5+2 seating in a footprint no larger than the existing 5-seat premium SUVs. Land Rover digitally revealed the new Discovery Sport at Spaceport America in New Mexico, USA
Discovery Sport’s new design approach defines the new Discovery family with optimised volume, proportions and stance. Its design leadership combines with engineering integrity to result in a dynamic profile, the ultimate use of interior space and 5+2 seating configurability.
The new Discovery Sport will be equipped with a 2.2 litre SD4 turbodiesel engine producing 190 PS featuring stop-start technology, high-pressure direct injection, low-friction internal components and smart regenerative charging for outstanding performance and economy. Both 9-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions are available. Later in 2015, a highly efficient two wheel drive eD4 turbodiesel engine will join the range with CO2 emissions from just 119g/km.
Expressing his views about the new Land Rover Discovery Sport, Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer said, “Our challenge has been to combine premium design with exceptional versatility; the two attributes must work in harmony. I’m proud to say we’ve achieved that; Discovery Sport’s dynamic design will resonate on an emotional level with consumers, and this vehicle is more versatile than any other premium compact SUV on the market.”
The interior of the Discovery Sport has been designed with customers at its core. It features high-quality materials and a strong vertical centre console graphic to reflect the premium design of the exterior, while the core Discovery value of versatility is evident everywhere. The Discovery Sport gets an all-new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and standard tilt-and-slide row-two seating for maximum interior configurability. Storage solutions are integrated into the cabin and up to four 12V power points and six USB charging sockets can be specified for all three rows of seating, allowing multiple electronic devices to be charged simultaneously.
An all-new multi-link rear axle not only provides engaging driving dynamics but it also provides ample and flexible cabin space behind the second row. Coupled with supple long-travel suspension, the rear axle also ensures the Discovery Sport is comfortable, refined and rewarding to drive on-road, while retaining the breadth of all-terrain capability. In fact, with approach, departure and breakover angles of 25, 31 and 21 degrees respectively, Terrain Response technology, and the ability to wade to 600mm, Discovery Sport offers class-leading capability in all conditions.
Safety has been a key priority in the development of the new Discovery Sport, resulting in a first-in-class pedestrian airbag, autonomous emergency braking, and a bodyshell featuring both ultra-high-strength steel and lightweight aluminium.
Discovery Sport will be produced at Land Rover’s award-winning manufacturing facility at Halewood, Liverpool. It goes on sale in January 2015 in the UK alongside the existing seven-seat Land Rover Discovery.
