Premier Motors launches New Land Rover Discovery Sport in Abu Dhabi

Premier Motors, the official Land Rover dealer in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, launched the hotly anticipated new Discovery Sport last night, introducing the vehicle to an enthusiastic audience during an exclusive event at the Yas Links Golf Club in the capital.

Turning heads since its worldwide debut at this year’s Paris Motor Show the new Discovery Sport is billed as the world’s most versatile and capable premium compact SUV unique to its segment and is the first new launch from the Land Rover Discovery family.

The event welcomed over 250 guests including VIPs, customers and key members of the media. Complete with thrilling live acts embodying the unique blend of refinement, performance and unmatched all-terrain capability that epitomises Land Rover vehicles, guests were welcomed with performances by a troupe of fire dancers and traditional drummers from the UAE.

Speaking at the launch event, Ashok Khanna, Chief Executive Officer, Al Tayer Motors said: “The Land Rover brand, synonymous with unbeatable terrain handling, has historic ties to the UAE ever since the Defender first made its appearance many decades ago. The new Discovery Sport is a fun way to join the Land Rover family, and together with competitive packages being offered through Premier Motors and Al Tayer Motors, I am confident it will be one of the best luxury vehicle options for customers in the premium compact sport utility vehicle segment.”

The new Discovery Sport, equipped with 240 PS turbocharged petrol engines, is available for booking from Premier Motors showrooms in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and Al Tayer Motors showrooms in Dubai and the Northern Emirates with prices starting from AED 159,000/-.

Bruce Robertson, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover MENA said: “We are extremely proud to present the new Discovery Sport in Abu Dhabi following the huge amount of attention it has received globally and here in the region since the official unveiling in Paris. This vehicle combines premium dynamic design and versatility which I am confident will resonate on an emotional level with our customers, and we expect this to deliver solid results when sales start early next year.”

The Discovery Vision Concept was also on display during the night, offering a further glimpse into the vision of Land Rover’s future family of Discovery vehicles. The concept car, revealed earlier this year at the New York Motor Show, previews a dynamic new design language and an array of innovative versatility and capability features, whilst also showcasing pioneering technologies from Jaguar Land Rover’s advanced research division.

A fun interactive zone was also set up at the event, giving guests the chance to virtually test their capabilities against the new Discovery Sport in specially created “capability pods”.  Choosing from mountain bike riding or sand boarding, competitors’ skills were pitched against the capabilities of the new Discovery Sport on a variety of challenging terrains, amplifying the spirit of adventure that is integral to the Discovery family DNA. 

Anticipation for the new Discovery Sport launch has been building up over the last few months as car enthusiasts across the MENA region have been closely watching Global Engineers conduct a final series of hot weather tests on the new Discovery Sport prototypes with the Jaguar Land Rover Engineering Centre in Dubai. The prototypes were put through their paces during arduous Middle East hot weather tests which included off-road desert capability, transmission calibration and brake noise temperatures up to a sweltering 50°C.

The exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the hot weather testing captured the new Discovery Sport showing off its exceptional capabilities, making it one of the most accomplished vehicles in its segment. A host of innovations have allowed Discovery Sport to boast a progressive new design approach and introduce the versatility of 5+2 seating into the premium compact SUV class for the first time, in a seating no larger than existing 5-seat premium SUVs.

Coupled with supple long-travel suspension, the innovative rear axle also ensures the Discovery Sport is comfortable, refined and rewarding to drive on-road, while retaining the breadth of the class-leading all-terrain capability for which Land Rover is world-renowned.

As with every new Land Rover, safety has been a key priority in the development of the new Discovery Sport, resulting in a first-in-class pedestrian airbag, autonomous emergency braking, and a state-of-the-art body shell featuring both ultra-high-strength steel and lightweight aluminium.

This represents a fraction of the advanced equipment available in Discovery Sport, which also includes Head-Up Display, an all-new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and tilt-and-slide row-two seating for maximum interior configurability.