- Land Rover Discovery Sport was dramatically unveiled on an 263‑foot barge on the River Seine in central Paris
- Surprise appearance from supermodel and actress Rosie Huntington‑Whiteley
- Unveil stunt featured seven pairs of giant Wellington boots to bring to life "5+2" seven seat versatility of the Discovery Sport
- Discovery Sport will take over entire Land Rover stand during the Paris Motor Show press day on October 2, 2014
(PARIS, FRANCE) ‑ October 1, 2014 ‑ The new Land Rover Discovery Sport made a uniquely British public debut today, ahead of the Paris Motor Show. A pair of Discovery Sport vehicles executed a dramatic performance aboard a large barge on the River Seine to mark the arrival of the brand's new premium compact SUV.
The two Discovery Sport vehicles put on a true show of Land Rover capability, flanked by seven pairs of brightly colored, giant‑sized Wellington boots ‑ created to represent the family‑friendly SUV's versatile 5+2 seating layout.
Fresh from the runways of Paris Fashion Week, Rosie Huntington‑Whiteley made a surprise appearance on Land Rover's own floating catwalk. Experiencing the new Land Rover's premium interior design and dynamic capability first hand, the British supermodel and actress played a starring role in the unveil, causing a media frenzy as she posed next to the Discovery Sport and a pair of 14. 8‑ft Union Jack patterned Wellington boots.
After revealing the Discovery Sport to the world's media for the first time, the 263‑ft barge continued to turn heads on its attention‑grabbing journey down the River Seine, cruising past Parisian landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre‑Dame Cathedral.
Highlighting the significance of the new premium compact SUV, the Discovery Sport will be the only vehicle displayed on the Land Rover stand throughout the first media preview day of the Paris Motor Show on October 2, 2014.
The Discovery Sport was revealed digitally at the Virgin Galactic Spaceport America facility in New Mexico, USA, on September 3, 2014 ‑ where Land Rover announced details of its Galactic Discovery competition to send four friends into space. The competition has attracted global media interest and is open for entry until November 21, 2014 via http://landrover.us/space.
"Designed and engineered to be the world's most capable and versatile premium compact SUV, this is a vehicle that will appeal not only to existing Land Rover customers but to a whole new group of people who may never have considered Land Rover before," said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer. "It is quite simply the most accomplished vehicle in its segment."
Land Rover sales continue to go from strength to strength after a record year for vehicle sales in 2013. Last year Land Rover set a new full‑year sales benchmark, retailing 348,338 vehicles ‑ up 15% ‑ and this year looks set to be another record breaker.
The Discovery Sport will be produced at the Land Rover manufacturing facility at Halewood in Liverpool, U.K and go on sale in 2015, alongside the existing seven‑seat Land Rover LR4 (known as the Discovery in global markets), in more than 170 markets worldwide.
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About Land Rover
Land Rover, the British maker of Land Rover and Range Rover sport utility vehicles, is renowned for providing its clientele with some of the most luxurious and capable vehicles in the world. Every Land Rover vehicle is equally at home both on and off road, and in any setting; be it in the heart of the city, or traversing the countryside. Today's Land Rover lineup includes the legendary Defender, LR2 (Freelander 2), LR4 (Discovery 4), Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque. Land Rover designs, engineers, and manufactures their vehicles in the United Kingdom. Land Rover is fully engaged with sustainability initiatives and social concerns with continuous involvement in environmental and community programs. For more information visit the official Land Rover website at http://www.landroverusa.com.
About Jaguar Land Rover
• The United States is one of the leading global markets for both Jaguar and Land Rover
• Jaguar Land Rover employs 25,000 people and sells vehicles in 170 countries around the world
• Jaguar Land Rover has two state of the art engineering and design facilities and three advanced manufacturing plants in the UK
• Headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey in the United States, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC has offices across the USA
• Jaguar Land Rover is represented by more than 330 independently operated retail outletsin the USA