Discovery Sport Is First of Land Rover's New Discovery Family

September 3, 2014

Patrick Ponticel

Land Rover engineers produced almost 200 prototypes of the Discovery Sport, which underwent a total of 6800 test weeks to ensure appropriate levels of reliability, off-road capability, and on-road dynamics.

Land Rover digitally revealed the first in a new Discovery family, the 2015 Discovery Sport SUV, on Sept. 2. The company claims a first in providing 5+2 seating in premium compact SUV; the vehicle's footprint is no larger than existing five-seat premium SUVs, it says. From launch in the U.K., Discovery Sport will be equipped with the 2.2-L SD4 turbodiesel engine producing 187 hp (139 kW) featuring stop-start technology, high-pressure direct injection, low-friction internal components, and regenerative charging. The U.S. model will be equipped with a 2.0-L turbocharged engine delivering 240 hp (179 kW). The SUV is slated to go on sale in early 2015 with a starting price in the U.S. of $37,995. In the U.K., a more efficient two-wheel-drive eD4 turbodiesel engine with CO2 emissions from 119 g/km will join the range later in 2015. A new multilink rear suspension is employed, as is a combination of lightweight materials including aluminum, high-strength steel, and ultra-high-strength steel.