Land Rover has unveiled the replacement for its long-serving Freelander model in the shape of the new Discovery Sport.
The Freelander name has been dispensed with as part of a strategy to develop a new 'family' of Discovery vehicles.
Land Rover has billed the new model, which will go on sale in January 2015, as "the world's most versatile and capable premium compact SUV" and say its "bold and progressive design" will define the new Discovery family.
The compact SUV, which like the Freelander and Freelander2 will be built at the firm's Halewood plant in Merseyside, also gets an extra two seats, emulating Land Rover's existing Discovery which boasts three rows of seats.
The 5+2 seating set-up will come as standard in the new Discovery Sport and Land Rover say it has been delivered in a footprint that is no larger than existing 5-seat premium SUVs.
To celebrate its launch and maximise its global impact, Land Rover is also running a special Galactic Discovery competition to send four winners into space with Virgin Galactic.
"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."
Land Rover digitally revealed the new Discovery Sport in the USA at Spaceport America in New Mexico, also launching the Land Rover Galactic Discovery competition, which will see four friends win a once-in-a-lifetime trip into space with Virgin Galactic.
The Discovery Sport's interior features a distinctive centre console with an all-new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a host of flourishes designed to enhance its versatility.
They include integrated storage solutions and up to four 12V power points and six USB charging sockets, which can be specified for all three rows of seating, allowing multiple electronic devices to be charged at the same time.
Land Rover has also highlighted innovations such as a new multi-link rear axle, which it has said will deliver engaging driving dynamics and provide extensive and flexible cabin space behind the second row of seats.
As well as being designed for luxurious and comfortable on-road motoring the new vehicle will also offer Land Rover’s traditional all-terrain capability.
When the Discovery Sport goes on sale it will be equipped with Jaguar Land Rover's 2.2-litre SD4 turbodiesel engine and will cost from £32,395.
Both 9-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions will be available.
Later in 2015, a leaner and greener two-wheel drive eD4 turbodiesel engine will join the range with CO2 emissions from just 119g/km. It will have a starting price of just under £30,000.
"Not only does Discovery Sport mark the introduction of the first new member of our expanding Discovery family, it also brings the versatility of 5+2 seating to the compact premium SUV market," said Phil Popham, Jaguar Land Rover Group marketing director.
"Discovery Sport's versatility is a key differentiator. It is quite simply the most-accomplished vehicle in its segment."
