There’s been a vast amount of teasing and stalker videosand headlamp shots of the anticipated Land Rover Discovery Sport. Now we can officially report that it has been launched, with details and loads of images. The Discovery Sport replaces theFreelander in Land Rover’s lineup.

Discovery Sport details

As a midsize or compact SUV, the Discovery Sport still manages to pack in seven seats with the third row featuring a foldable pair of seats. The middle row of seats can be reclined as well as fitted to rails in order to slide back and forth, this makes the seating arrangements particularly adaptable.

Land Rover also claim that the Discovery Sport can be fitted with up to five 12V sockets and three USB charging ports servicing all three rows of seats. An entirely new infotainment system has been built in and is powered by an eight-inch touch screen in the centre of the dash.

Off road credentials remain firmly cemented as the Discovery Sportis equipped Terrrain Response allowing it to adjust and cope with differing terrains at the push of a button. It also has a multi-link rear suspension setup, which Land Rover says improves rear occupant comfort levels, even in the back row where it can be notoriously bouncy.

The headline grabber as far as safety systems is concerned is the introduction of a pedestrian airbag, which we first saw being introduced on the current Volvo V40. The Discovery Sport is also equipped with autonomous emergency braking, where if the system detects an imminent accident it will apply the brakes.

At launch the Disco Sport will be powered by the 2.2-litre SD4 turbodiesel, which we recently drove in the Range Rover Evoque. In the Disco Sport it will produce 140kW and will be connected to either the nine-speed automatic or a six speed manual. There is also talk of a two wheel drive eD4 turbodiesel engine that will join the range later in 2015 with CO2emissions from just 119g/km.

The Discovery Sport will go on sale in Europe in January 2015.