Land Rover will launch its Discovery Sport early next year, replacing the current Freelander with the first of what will become a new Discovery family.
To be built like the existing Discovery at the Halewood pant in Merseyside, the new compact SUV is effectively the Range Rover Evoque in a different shell.
It will offer a 5+2 seating layout, despite being of similar overall dimensions to five-seat rivals, and achieved through a new multi-link rear axle which also improves the Sport’s road prowess.
Importantly it will also maintain Land Rover’s long-established off-road reputation, including the Terrain Response electronics familiar from other models from the brand, and a 600mm wading depth.
However the Sport will also follow the example of recent crossover rivals in offering a front-wheel-drive version. On sale some months after the 2.2-litre 187bhp 4WD model, it will be powered by one of the new diesels set to be produced by Jaguar Land Rover’s new engine plant in Wolverhampton.
The two-wheel-drive version will cost from ”under £30,000” while the 4WD model will start from £32,395.
