It took months of rumors, spy shots, speculation and leaks, but the newest member of the Land Rover->ke46 family is finally official and we have all the details. Say hello to the Land Rover Discovery->ke511 Sport.

Much like the Range Rover Sport->ke4087, the new Discovery Sport is a smaller and faster version of a car that wears a similar name. It has an all-new design that is very similar to the Discovery Vision Concept that bowed earlier this year. The new model is loaded to the gills with new technology, and it features some of the nicest design touches ever fitted to a Discovery.

To make the most of this new, stylish shell, the engine and modern nine-speed ZF automatic transmission from the Range Rover Evoque are combined with an advanced AWD system to create a dynamic and capable machine.

If you want to know all the exact details like horsepower, ride height and available extras just click through to read our full coverage. We even have a whole collection of nice high-res photos to go with it. Enjoy.

Click past the jump to read more about the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport
  • Segment: Array
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 240 @ 5800
  • Torque: 251 @ 1750
  • Transmission: ZF 9HP48 9-speed automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The round, sleek and rather handsome looking Discovery Vision Concept previewed the majority of the new Discovery Sport’s exterior styling. The overall size feels compact and taut compared to the large and unwieldy Discovery, and it looks much like a larger sibling to the Evoque. This styling comparison is not by mistake either, as Land Rover is using the most attractive model in its lineup to inject some fresh styling into the rest of the brand.

The front is a little softer and more curved than what would be traditional for the brand, but it adds a modern feel and a sense of speed and performance. The new mesh grille is flanked by HID headlamps with interesting LED running lamps that are setup in a circle with distinctive points in them. Land Rover says the design is meant to create the feeling of a compass with the breaks in the LEDs representing the four cardinal directions. The rear lights are a similarly slim, wraparound design that helps tie into the overall look of the machine.

Aside from looking great, Land Rover is claiming that the new shape is more aerodynamic and thanks to changes like the altered wheel design, wind noise should be drastically reduced in the cabin. You can get your new Disco Sport in one of nine colors that include: Fuji White, Santorini Black, Corris Grey, Indus Silver, Loire Blue, Scotia Grey, Kaikoura Stone, Firenze Red, and a limited edition color, Yulong White. There will also be five different alloy wheel design options.

Exterior Dimensions

Height

67.9 in (1724 mm)

Width including wing mirrors

85.6 in (2173 mm)

Length

180.7 in (4589 mm)

Wheelbase

107.9 in (2741 mm)

Approach angle - standard ride / off-road height

25 degrees

Departure angle - standard ride / off-road height

31 degrees

Ramp breakover angle - standard ride / off-road height

21 degrees

Wading depth

23.6 in (600 mm)

Turning circle - curb to curb

38.1 ft (11.6 m)

Drag coefficient

0.36 Cd

Weight

3844.9 lb (1744 kg)

Curb weight

3957.3 lb (1795 kg)


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Interior

The outside looks great, but most of the magic of the new Discovery Sport happens on the inside. Thanks to what can only be described as engineering witchcraft, the Discovery Sport has a compact exterior footprint that is similar to most five-seat competitor, but Land Rover has been able to cram an extra set of seats in the back to create a three-row 5+2 seating arrangement. If you are familiar with the 2+2 nomenclature from some sport coupes you will understand that those back seats are really only for children, but it is still amazing that Land Rover was able to fit them in at all.

Like all things that wear the Land Rover badge, the cabin is as luxurious as they come. Options like twin-needle-stitched leather, genuine metal interior trim, configurable mood lighting and multi-zone climate control all add to make the cabin refined and comfortable.

For enhanced space and comfort, the second-row seats slide and recline for perfect seating position, there are multiple cup holders and storage bins for every seating position and the rear seat air vents have been moved to the pillars to more effectively provide adequate airflow.

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Drivetrain

Powering the Discovery Sport will be the same turbocharged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that is under the hood of the Evoque. That means there will be 240 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of twist on tap. This engine will be bolted to the ZF nine-speed automatic transmission, complete with that trick rotating shift knob that rises from the dash. The transmission is setup so that during most situations the car will actually take off in second gear to improve fuel economy, and then there is a very low first gear for slow-speed off-road situations.

Since this is a Land Rover, it needs to be capable of tackling the roughest of terrains. A standard Haldex All-Wheel-Drive system helps to keep the new Discovery Sport moving and pointing the right direction even when traction and terrain are less than ideal. The Disco Sport has more than eight-inches of ground clearance, a 25-inch approach angle and can climb slopes as steep as 45-degrees. Like other models in the Land Rover family, the air intake has been mounted high on top of the engine and the doors have robust weather seals to make shallow water crossings an easy affair. The trademark Terrain Response system and Hill Descent Control function are also included as standard.

Drivetrain Specifications

Engine type

Gasoline, turbocharged, direct injection, spark ignition, dual independent variable valve timing

Displacement

1999 cc (122 cu in)

Bore / Stroke

3.44 x 3.27 in (87.5 x 83.1 mm)

Compression ratio

10.0:1

Max power

240 HP @ 5800 RPM

Max Torque

251 LB-FT @ 1750 RPM

Transmission

ZF 9HP48 9-speed automatic

Fuel tank capacity

18.5 gal

0-60 mph

7.8 sec Auto AWD

Top speed

124 mph


Chassis

The Discovery Sport is built on a new platform that is made of futuristic, lightweight materials. High-strength steel and aluminum are combined with an ultra-high-strength boron steel to create a body shell that is very light while being extremely strong and rigid. Most of the body panels that are attached to this structure, like the fenders, hood, roof and tailgate, are all aluminum to reduce weight and lower the center of gravity for improved performance. Other features, like the magnesium crossbeam to increase rigidity, have been borrowed from the Range Rover Evoque. Even many of the suspension components are made from aluminum for reduced weight.

For the best possible combination of off-road performance and on-road agility, the front suspension makes use of steel lower control arms and aluminum suspension knuckles as well as hydraulic rebound stops. The rear suspension is a compact multi-link arrangement that provides 13.4 inches of travel for superior suspension articulation.

Prices

The starting price of the new Land Rover Discovery Sport is a relatively cheap $37,995. That makes it about $1,400 more expensive than the cheapest model on Land Rover lots -- the LR2. As with all cars, that price will quickly rise with higher trim models or the addition of options.

Pricing Details

Model

MSRP Price

Discovery Sport SE

$37,070

Discovery Sport HSE

$41,570

Discovery Sport HSE Luxury

$45,570


Packages

Vision Assist Package SE

$800

Black Design Package with Contrast Roof and 19" Black Wheels

$900

Black Design Package with 19" Black Wheels

$700

Vision Assist Package HSE

$1,900

Black Design Package with Contrast Roof and 20" Black Wheels HSE

$1,500

Black Design Package with 20" Black Wheels HSE

$1,300

Climate Comfort Package

$1,600

Row 3 Seating Package

$1,750

Audio Upgrade

$800

Driver Assist Plus Package

$1,295


Competitors

Jaguar C-X17

This may sound like a little bit of a family feud since Jaguar and Land Rover are owned by the same parent company, which would be Tata Motors. But even then, you can still have a little sibling rivalry without hurting the other's feelings.

That's the direction we see the new Discovery Sport and the C-X17 are taking, especially now that there are reports that both SUVs will be built differently. Currently we know the C-X17 comes powered by a choice of engines, including the same 3.0-liter, supercharged, V-6 engine as the F-Type and a smaller 2.0-liter, inline-four engine that nets 240 ponies.

Pricing for the C-X17 will start around £30,000 and be available in the latter half of 2015 as a 2016 model.

Read our full review here.

Audi Q5

The second SUV in Audi’s lineup -- the Q5 -- has become a hit. What's more impressive is that the Q5 has only been around since 2008. But in that time, it's managed to accomplish a lot of things, not the least of which is overtaking the Audi A4, from its top-sales perch.

That goes to show how people have taken to the Q5.

Moreover, the Q5 is offered with a choice of two engines: a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder that packs 220 horsepower and a supercharged, 3.0-liter V-6 that makes 272 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

The model is priced from $35,900.

Read our full review here.

Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept

The arrival of the Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept marks a landmark achievement for Land Rover, not because the concept looks all sexy and sweet, but because it's the start of a new direction for the company.

Don't understate the risk Land Rover is taking by adopting this strategy. It could be a make or break deal that could define Land Rover's future. All that though and you still can't help but admire this beautiful SUV concept the company has unveiled in New York.

One of the most unique features of the Discovery Vision Concept is the adoption of The laser headlight technology. Using laser-activated phosphor projection to throw light over 300 meters beyond the range of traditional headlights, the beams are said to provide light that closely resembles daylight.

Another feature that's completely out-of-this-world is the Transparent Bonnet Concept, which goes hand-in-hand with the company's new Terrain Responses system. The Transparent Bonnet system proactively anticipates upcoming terrain by way of Laser Terrain Scanning and the forward-facing cameras to automatically select the best setting for the upcoming obstacle. Pretty sick, if you ask us.

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Conclusion

With a new design that is quite striking, a price that is extremely competitive and all the usual off-road goodies we have come to expect from a Land Rover, the new Discovery Sport is lined up to be a winner. Only time will tell if the Land Rover can get the right marketing to get buyers into dealer showrooms, but I don’t expect that this will be too hard of a machine to sell. I would like to see more powerful engine options or the eventual availability of a diesel engine for the U.S. market, but this makes for a strong starting point. I think it is okay to say that Land Rover is officially on the up-and-up. I can’t wait to see what the company is going to release next.

Update History

Updated 06/16/2015: Our friends at INK and FP Creative sent us this fun video showcasing the Discovery Sport's most important attributes in an unusual fashion -- by taking it apart! Check it out below or here.

Updated 01/22.2015: Land Rover announced full pricing details on the new Discovery Sport which is now available at U.S. dealerships. The model is offered in three trim levels: SE, HSE, and HSE Luxury. The base SE carries an MSRP of $38,920 including destination.

Updated 07/29/2014: Land Rover unveiled the first teaser images and video on the future Discovery Sport and confirmed that the model will be offered with 5+2 seating capacity.

Updated 08/06/2014: Land Rover unveiled two new teaser video for the future Discovery Sport which now entered into its final development phase.

Updated 9/4/2015: Land Rover has officially unveiled the new Discovery Sport.

Leaked images

Well. It seems that the cat is out of the bag; at least in a visual fashion. Someone at Land Rover wasn’t doing a very good job on their digital security detail and we now have a pair of leaked images that show the new Discovery Sport. I must say, it is far more stunning that I ever expected anything wearing a Discovery badge could be.

It shares a lot of visual likeness with both the Range Rover Sport and the Range Rover Evoque. From the B-pillar back it does share a lot with the four-door Evoque, just slightly bigger. The rounded nose, grille and general stance feel very similar to the RR Sport. Short overhangs will help with handling by improving the amount of inboard weight versus outboard weight, and it serves to improve the approach and departure angles as well for better off-road ability.

My only complaint so far is that the rounded headlights look a little less handsome and futuristic than the more squared LED runners that are on the current Disco and Range Rovers.

We still don’t have any solid details on things like drivetrain specifications, and we have no idea what the rear or the interior looks like. Keep your eyes here, and we will be sure to update you will all the leaks and details as we get them.