The updated Land Rover Discovery Sport will come with a new hybrid powertrain and a mild facelift in 2018, as part of JLR’s big push for electrification.
The slight camouflage on the front bumper of the model being tested here implies mild aesthetic changes to that area. The same is expected for the car’s back bumper and lights, although this early test car looks to be wearing the current Discovery's parts. The rear bumper also appears to be from a higher-specification petrol variant, as shown by the cutaways for two tailpipes, but the car is running with a diesel engine.
This turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-litre Ingenium oil burner isn’t expected to receive any major adjustments with the facelift, but the Discovery Sport drivetrain range will gain a new hybrid option as part of Jaguar Land Rover’s push to introduce an electrified variant of every model by 2020.
The Discovery Sport will receive a petrol-hybrid powertrain that’s based on a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine, shared with the upcoming Range Rover Evoque plug-in hybrid.
This all-new three-pot and electric motor system will enable around 48km of pure electric driving, as well as improved fuel economy. It’s essentially a smaller version of the 2.0-litre petrol-based drivetrain that will be used in the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport PHEVs, which are due later this year.
The interior is also expected to get changes in the form of Land Rover’s much improved cabin infotainment. Though it’s likely to retain a centre console screen with dials beneath, rather than get the advanced multi-screen set-up of the new and considerably pricier Velar.
Land Rover has remained typically quiet about its Discovery Sport updates, but the car’s production life cycle suggests it’ll launch next year.
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