2015 Land Rover concept’s production plans revealed

 Land Rover will begin producing the 2015 Discovery Sport SUV from next year. The SUV is based on the Discovery Vision concept that was revealed at this year’s New York Motor Show. The Discovery Sport SUV will be made at Land Rover’s Halewood factory in England for markets around the world. The SUV’s production at Halewood adds 250 new jobs and an investment of 200 million British pounds. This factory is already running in 3 shifts.

The Discovery Sport will replace the Freelander 2 SUV and will also be the first SUV to be based on the Discovery Vision platform. The Discovery Vision platform is a modified version of the Range Rover Evoque’s platform and in the next few years, more Land Rover SUVs will use this platform. Though the 2015 Discovery Sport will replace the Freelander 2 it will be available in 5 seater and 7 seater versions.

Jaguar and Land Rover are developing a new range of Ingenium engines that are petrol and diesel powered. These turbocharged engines will be used on the Discovery Sport SUV also. Since the Discovery Sport replaces the Freelander 2 SUV, the new model will be launched in India next year. Presently Land Rover assembles the Freelander 2 in India and the company is expected to assemble the Discovery Sport as well.

The Land Rover Discovery Sport Concept displayed a number of new features.

• Human machine interface based infotainment system that works on gesture sensing.
• Remote control drive that allows the driver to maneuver the car remotely.
• Laser headlamps with automatic dipping for oncoming traffic.
• Laser terrain scanning to allow the driver to map the terrain.
• Transparent bonnet technology which works through cameras relaying a video of the terrain ahead of the car.

Some of the above features could be offered on the production model of the Discovery Sport SUV next year.

Souurce: indiancarsbikes