Land Rover is distancing the follow-up to the Freelander from the Range Rover Evoque, as these Automedia spy shots clearly indicate.
Despite the new Discovery Sport – as it will be known – riding on the same platform as the Evoque, the new Land Rover will be larger than the current Freelander, which means it will be larger again than the smallest Range Rover. The vehicles being tested (in America this time) were heavily disguised, but the traditional Land Rover styling theme of clamshell bonnet – shared with both the current Freelander and the Evoque – was quite apparent, as were the curvier looks and the rising waist around the rear flanks, much like the Range Rover Sport.
The Automedia photographers reckon a prominent grille will distinguish the Discovery Sport from Range Rover Sport and the Evoque. There's a risk with the Discovery Sport's styling that the new model will blur that distinctive line between Land Rover and Range Rover models. But the Discovery Sport is likely to finish up a singular design all the same.
Automedia believes the Discovery Sport will adopt the same engine line-up as the Evoque: 2.2-litre diesels and a 2.0-litre petrol powerplant. Our guess would be JLR's 'Ingenium' engines (or at least the architecture with Land Rover's own ancillaries, cylinder head and tuning) would make some appearance in the range. And surely the ZF nine-speed already developed for the Evoque must be in the mix too?