Land Rover Discovery Sport to get seven seats

LAND ROVER has released images of its Freelander-replacing Discovery Sport dressed in a detail-disguising wrapping, but the all-over camouflage reveals one feature that the outgoing model does not have: seven seats.

The vinyl coating obscures much of the new mid-sized SUV's detail, but the peeled back graphic – sardine-tin style – shows a third row of two extra seats.

Land Rover describes the new interior layout as “5+2 seating”, which suggests the two rear positions will not be full-sized seats and most likely fold-away units for occasional use.

Under its disguise, the new model appears to be production ready, but a fleet of the camouflaged cars have been dispatched to various locations around the world for final testing and development, before the official Discovery Sport launch next year.

The disguised vehicle also reveals a nose design that takes cues from its larger Range Rover SUV sibling, as well as twin outboard tailpipes and an unusual ribbed seat upholstery pattern.

Techincal details have not yet been announced, but it is likely the new model will be powered by Jaguar Land Rover's new line of Ingenium engines, which will be produced in the car-maker's new UK factory.

Overall dimensions are also yet to be revealed, but it is possible the new model's measurements might have grown to accommodate the extra passengers.

Land Rover Design Director Gerry McGovern said Discovery Sport would retain “a more compact footprint than traditional five-seat SUVs”, with “spacious load space and configurable seating”.

An increase in size would only be modest to avoid stepping on the toes of its bigger name-sharing brother – the Discovery large SUV – which also has seven-seats.

When the new SUV arrives next year it will take the baton form Land Rover's aging Freelander, which, in Australia, is eight years old.