If you were at all familiar with the Land Rover product portfolio in the past several years, you would know — very well — that the Freelander was a weak point. As cars like the Evoque, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport came into the lineup, the Freelander was the black sheep.
Its interior was far less luxurious and the exterior styling looked quite dated.
OFFICIAL Paris Motor Show Gallery
With the launch of the Discovery Sport, that has all changed. That's because the Disco Sport's exterior styling is far more in line with its siblings and its interior has been updated. Though the Discovery Sport's interior remains more functional than its fellow family members, you do have to recall that its base price will be the high $30,000 mark and this isn't an Audi. Compared to the outgoing Freelander, the Disco Sport's accommodations are a significant step up from the last-gen product.
Of course the question lingers though:
is all of this ENOUGH to edge out the steep competition in a jam-packed segment? Does the Discovery Sport have what it takes to battle the likes of the Audi Q3 and Q5, BMW X1 and X3, Lexus NX and RX, and Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class and GLA-Class?
While it may seem a bit ho hum in the neutral colors, check out the orange painted one with the black wheels and shift-it-yourself transmission. Then let us know what YOU think.
OFFICIAL Paris Motor Show Gallery
Land Rover's press release follows:Land Rover Discovery Sport Makes Its Paris Debut In True British Style
- Discovery Sport unveiled in dramatic dynamic fashion on an 80-metre barge on the River Seine in central Paris
- Surprise appearance from supermodel and actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
- Unveil stunt featured seven pairs of giant Wellington boots to bring to life Discovery Sport's "5+2" seven seat versatility
- Discovery Sport to take over entire Land Rover stand during Paris Motor Show press day on 2nd October
The new Land Rover Discovery Sport made a uniquely British public debut today, ahead of the Paris Motor Show. A pair of Discovery Sport vehicles performed a dramatic dynamic debut aboard a giant barge on the River Seine to mark the arrival of the brand's new premium compact SUV.
The two Discovery Sports put on a true show of Land Rover capability, flanked by seven pairs of brightly coloured, giant-sized Wellington boots - created to represent the family-friendly SUV's versatile 5+2 seating layout, along with Land Rover's unique take on outdoor life.
Fresh from the runways of Paris Fashion Week, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley made a surprise appearance on Land Rover's own floating catwalk. Experiencing the new Land Rover's premium interior design and dynamic capability first hand, the British supermodel and actress played a starring role in the unveil, causing a media frenzy as she posed next to the Discovery Sport and a pair of 4.5-metre Union Jack patterned Wellington boots.
After revealing Discovery Sport to the world's media for the first time, the 80-metre long barge continued to turn heads on its attention-grabbing journey down the River Seine, cruising past Parisian landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Highlighting the significance of the new premium compact SUV, Discovery Sport will be the only vehicle displayed on the Land Rover stand throughout the first media preview day of the Paris Motor Show (2nd October).
Discovery Sport was revealed digitally at Virgin Galactic's Spaceport America facility in New Mexico, USA, on 3rd September - where Land Rover announced details of its Galactic Discovery competition to send four friends into space. The competition has attracted global media interest and is open for entry until November 21st via www.landrover.com/gotospace.
"Designed and engineered to be the world's most capable and versatile premium compact SUV, this is a vehicle that will appeal not only to existing Land Rover customers but to a whole new group of people who may never have considered Land Rover before," said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer. "It is quite simply the most accomplished vehicle in its segment."
Land Rover sales continue to go from strength to strength after a record year for vehicle sales in 2013. Last year Land Rover set a new full-year sales benchmark, retailing 348,338 vehicles - up 15% - and this year looks set to be another record breaker.
Discovery Sport will be produced at Land Rover's award-winning manufacturing facility at Halewood in Liverpool and go on sale in 2015, alongside the existing seven-seat Land Rover Discovery, in more than 170 markets worldwide.
OFFICIAL Paris Motor Show Gallery
