NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Land Rover confirms Discovery Sport

Land Rover has confirmed what motoring.com.au first reported back in 2012 – that the replacement for its Freelander will be called the Discovery Sport.

Billed as an all-new premium compact SUV, the Discovery Sport will go on sale globally in 2015 as the first in a new family of Discovery models that place a firm emphasis on versatility.

The news was announced by Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer Gerry McGovern at the New York International Auto Show today.

“This will be the most versatile and capable SUV in its segment and is the first expression of the Discovery Vision Concept (pictured) unveiled here in New York," he said.

On releasing the Discovery Sport first, Jaguar Land Rover Group Marketing Director Phil Popham explained: “As a brand, we look to segments where we have expertise. We feel we have it in the premium compact SUV segment, which is also the fastest growing segment in the world.”

Popham also confirmed that the Discovery Sport will not use the existing aluminium architecture employed by the latest-generation Range Rover, though he would not expand on platform specifics.

It is likely that the replacement for the current Discovery 4 will follow the Discovery Sport in 2016, making the family two-strong. Popham was unable to confirm rumours of an eventual four-model Discovery family, saying that no final number had been decided at this stage.