The long-awaited 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport has officially been revealed. Set to replace the company’s entry-level Freelander, it was first previewed as the Discovery Vision Concept earlier in the year and has maintained similar styling to the concept.
On a design front, the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport is 91 mm longer than the Freelander as well as lower. Compared to the Freelander, the overall design is completely different with headlights similar to those from the Discovery Vision Concept featuring.
Discussing the design, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Executive Officer Gerry McGovern 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.”
At launch, a selection of four-cylinder models will be available. The 2.0-litre petrol and the 2.2-litre turbodiesel both incorporate advanced stop-start technology as well as high-pressure direct injection, low-friction internal components along with smart regenerative charging to improve performance and economy. A 6-speed manual transmission can be optioned with either of the two engines with a 9-speed automatic also available. Additionally, customers can choose between rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Later next year, a new ED4 turbodiesel will join the range.
In the cabin, the new Land Rover Discovery Sport is traditional Land Rover with a prominent transmission tunnel and centre console. A large 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is a key highlight. Elsewhere, the Discovery Sport features an advanced heads-up display. Additionally, the Land Rover Discovery Sport introduces a 5+2 seating setup which is the first time in the premium compact SUV class.
Underpinning the Land Rover Discovery Sport is a steel monocoque but to keep the overall weight of the car down, aluminium has been utilised for the car’s roof, wings, tailgate and bonnet. All up, the car tips the scales at 1817 kg which is about 900 kg less than the larger Land Rover Discovery.
The 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport will hit the market on January 22 next year and when it does, four different trim levels will be offered. These are SE, SE Tech, HSE and HSE Luxury.
