Land Rover previews new seven-seat Discovery Sport

Every automaker has its own way of revealing its new models. Some just pull the veil off the thing when it's ready, while others release hints and teasers leading up to the full reveal. Jaguar Land Rover seems to be taking a different approach, purposely releasing images of its new products wearing camouflaging body wraps before taking those wraps off at long last. That's the tactic it seems to be taking with the new XEsports sedan, as it is with the Range Rover Sport SVR, and now it's following a similar path with the upcoming new Discovery Sport.

Previewed by the Discovery Vision concept at the New York Auto Show a few months ago, the new Discovery Sport is slated to join the Discovery (known in North America as the LR4) in the Land Rover lineup next year, and appears to carry over the concept's styling: compared to the boxier existing model, the Discovery Sport (like the Discovery Vision) has a higher beltline, more swept-back greenhouse and forward-swept C-pillar, but a roofline that appears to taper off where the concept's was straight.

Land Rover has confirmed that the Discovery Sport will – like the LR4, Discovery Vision and Range Rover Sport – offer a third row of seats for seven-passenger capacity, as revealed by the "peeled-back" camo. The Discovery Sport will be manufactured at the Halewood plant where the Freelander and Evoque are made.Scroll down below for official details from the automaker.

LAND ROVER REVEALS THIRD ROW SEATING FOR DISCOVERY SPORT

- Ahead of its official reveal, Land Rover releases images of camouflaged Discovery Sport
- New Discovery family compact SUV to feature option of three row seating
- Camouflage wrap gives view of vehicle's interior design
- Prototype vehicles leave Jaguar Land Rover's Halewood plant to embark on final testing stages

(WHITLEY, U.K.) - July 29, 2014 - Land Rover has dropped the biggest hint yet towards the design of Discovery Sport, with a new camouflage wrap that gives a peek into the interior packaging, highlighted by the future compact SUV's 5+2 available seating.

As if 'peeling back' the outer layer of the vehicle, the camouflage reveals that the Discovery Sport will in fact have the option of two seats in the third row, enhancing its versatility and appeal as a compact, family SUV.

Prototype cars sporting the new camouflage design left Halewood, UK, where the Discovery Sport will be manufactured, to embark on final testing and development activity across several continents.

"As you would expect from a Discovery, the versatile Discovery Sport will feature optional 5+2 seating, offering spacious load space and configurable seating, while still retaining a more compact footprint than traditional 5-seat SUVs," said Gerry McGovern, Design Director and Chief Creative Officer for Land Rover.

Discovery Sport will go on sale alongside the existing Discovery in 2015.