Land Rover revealed the all new Discovery Sport at Spaceport America in New Mexico, USA. The SUV promises to offer buyers a spirited on-road experience, without totally relinquishing off-road ability, in a similar vein to its bigger brother the Range Rover Sport.
According to Land Rover, safety was 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 state-of-the-art body shell featuring both ultra-high-strength steel and lightweight aluminium. Other features will include an all-new 8-inch touch screen infotainment system, and standard tilt-and-slide row-two seating.
“Our challenge has been to combine premium design with exceptional versatility; the two attributes must work in harmony,” said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer. “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”
Derivatives for the South African market are yet to be confirmed. But in the UK, the Sport is equipped with the marque’s familiar 2.2-litre SD4 turbocharged diesel engine and two-litre, turbocharged petrol mill. Both 9-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions are available.
The Discovery Sport will be produced at Land Rover’s award-winning manufacturing facility at Halewood, Liverpool. The Discovery Sport is set to arrive in South Africa in early 2015. Prices will be announced closer to release date.
With the new model, Land Rover hopes to take the fight to the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLK, which is destined for SA shores too.
-Ignition Live Reporter
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