The Discovery Sport will replace Land Rover's Freelander come January 2015, occupying a position in the firm's range just below the current Discovery.
As you can see from the newly released images, the new car looks sleeker and sportier than the outgoing Freelander, but that doesn't mean it will underperform in off-road settings – according to Gerry McGovern, Land Rover’s Design Director and Chief Creative Officer, who said: “Our challenge was to combine premium design with exceptional versatility. I’m proud to say we’ve achieved that.”
The Sport's pedigree should mean few interactions with breakdown insurance operatives, but as always with a virtually brand new vehicle, teething problems could arise.
Among the new vehicle's features is a “5+2” seating configuration, which means it can carry two more passengers than its main rivals – the Volvo XC60 and the BMW X3, each of which feature five seats.
The "+2" seating configuration may mean that the additional pair of seats are not quite as big as the main five, but with sliding second row seats, there should be some flexibility in their arrangement.
New storage solutions, up to four 12V power outlets, and six USB connectors mean the new Discovery Sport may be a winner with families; charging multiple devices certainly won't be an issue.
The car will also feature pedestrian airbags – the first of its kind to do so.
When the car hits UK and European showrooms in January, only one engine option will be available, Land Rover's 187bhp 2.0-litre SD4 diesel (from £32,395). However, an eD4 model will be launched later in the year, emitting only 119g/km of CO2, with a price tag of below £30,000.
Buyers of the first version will be able to select either a six-speed manual gearbox or a nine-speed automatic.
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