We take a closer look at the Land Rover Discovery Sport, a vehicle that was announced back in early September.
A lot has happened since the car's first appearance, including the influential Paris Motor Show and a plethora of opportunities for Land Rover to flaunt their most recent addition to the Discovery family. Firstly, it's almost imperative we note this is undoubtedly one of the most compact vehicles to ever grace the class. The edges are more refined, and the car generally looks more sleek and aerodynamic – features that Land Rover hope will give it the upper hand over its bulkier rivals. Land Rover also claim the Discovery Sport will boast a 'flexible interior' and 'offer so much more', an indication of this is the fact vehicle is equipped with a sliding second row that will offer legroom similar to the incredibly spacious Land Rover. A third row will be adaptable to space, and any other requirements the driver should have. The horizontal and vertical lines from the car’s stylish exterior, will carry through to the interior which offers smooth edges and a comfortable ride.
In-car technology and safety systems are all the rage at the minute; and with an assumedly spacious interior, there is perhaps extra pressure on Land Rover to deliver on this front. The New Discovery Sport's technologies have been tested on varied terrains for over a year, in what Land Rover have described as '’gruelling conditions and in over 20 countries’’. This suggests the vehicle has been put through its paces, and offers great hope for those looking to get their hands on the new model. An 'eight-inch Touch-screen with the latest technology for intuitive interaction' is a fairly vague explanation of the technological detail that will debut in the Land Rover, but we can’t expect a great deal more at this current stage.
The Discovery Sports ‘innovation’ is where the vehicle looks set to excel. We seem to have switched straight into the future when describing the following, and perhaps, that’s Land Rover’s hope that the car will act as a sort of time capsule. Dynamic Steering Control, Roll Stability Control and Corner Brake Control are headlining, but there are many other first-class features that will also take pride of place in the Discovery Sport. A Pedestrian Airbag will offer a cushion from impact from an airbag system mounted on the windscreen, and emergency braking signals will arrive with a warm welcome from both drivers and passengers – drivers will be alerted via warning signals, and the application of emergency brakes. ECO-Mode will act as an optional addition, providing a greater fuel economy and will work with other in-car features to slash the vehicle’s fuel consumption. Park Assist will offer a ‘suite of features’ and give the driver plenty of help from every-kind of parking position. Great news for those plagued with street parking, and those pesky tight angles.
So that’s what we know so far – or at least it’s what Land Rover want us to know. More details are expected to filter out, but it’s fair to say the Discovery Sport is shaping up to be an incredible vehicle.
