Land Rover has revealed the new Discovery Sport, which it claims as the world’s most versatile and compact SUV, featuring a 5+2 seating in a footprint no larger than existing five-seat premium SUVs.

The car’s progressive 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 and the ultimate use of interior space.

As with every new Land Rover, safety has been a key priority in the development of the new vehicle, resulting in a pedestrian airbag, autonomous emergency braking, and a body shell featuring both ultra-high-strength steel and lightweight aluminium, the company said.

The Discovery Sport was launched with a range of four-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. Both the all-alloy Si4 2.0L petrol engine and the 2.2L turbo-diesel boast stop-start technology, high-pressure direct injection, low-friction internal components and smart regenerative charging for outstanding performance and economy.

“Not only does the Discovery Sport mark the introduction of the first new member of our expanding Discovery family, but it also brings 5+2 seating configurability to the compact premium SUV market,” said Phil Popham, Jaguar Land Rover Group marketing director. “The Discovery Sport’s versatility is a key differentiator. It is quite simply the most accomplished vehicle in its segment.”

The Discovery Sport will be produced at Land Rover’s award-winning manufacturing facility at Halewood in Liverpool, UK. It will go on sale during the beginning of 2015, alongside the existing seven-seater Land Rover Discovery in over 170 markets worldwide. – TradeArabia News Service