New Range Rover Sport next year
* Current car based on Discovery
* New Range Rover Sport will be based on new Range Rover
Land Rover will reveal an-all new Range Rover Sport next year, following the launch of the new Range Rover on Thursday.
The new Sport will be heavily based on the Range Rover - unlike the current model which shares a platform with the Discovery. It will also be available with seven seats for the first time.
Highly placed Land Rover sources have admitted that the Sport will share its big sister's aluminium architecture and new engines, including the forthcoming diesel hybrid version.
Land Rover Engineers admittted to What Car? that the new Sport should also benefit from similar impressive weight, economy and CO2 savings as the Range Rover.
Five- and seven-seat versions will go on sale, making it more of a rival for the Audi Q7 and BMW X5. Engineers also admit that it will be more luxurious than the current model and feel more agile and 'car like' to drive.
Further derivatives of the new Range Rover are also expected next year, including a long-wheelbase version which could be launched at the Shanghai motorshow in April. However it's still unclear whether the 'limo' Range Rover, which offers a significant amount of extra legroom and an even more comfortable ride, will go on sale in the UK.
