Land Rover kicks off Discovery Sport production

Land Rover has officially started production of its all-new Discovery Sport compact utility vehicle. The Discovery Sport made its world debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show and will greet the public for the first time on these shores at next month’s Los Angeles auto show.

The first production-spec Discovery Sport rolled out of Land Rover’s factory in Halewood, UK, earlier on Friday. Discovery Sport No. 001 will be delivered to Virgin Galactic’s UK headquarters, where it will be used by team members as they prepare to become the first company to offer commercial space travel.

“It fills me with pride to have seen the first new Discovery Sport coming off the line here at our world-class Halewood production facility. We are now even more excited to hand the keys over to the crew at Virgin Galactic. The new car embodies Land Rover’s spirit of Above and Beyond, so it’s fitting that it will be used by a similarly pioneering company in Virgin Galactic,” said Murray Dietsch, Director of Land Rover Programs.

Made at the same factory that produces the Range Rover Evoque, the Discovery Sport marks the start of a new Discovery sub-brand for Land Rover. The Discovery Sport will replace the current LR2 while a larger Discovery model will eventually succeed the LR4.

Following its LA debut, the Discovery Sport will arrive in U.S. showrooms with a starting price of about $38,000.

Live image by Ronan Glon.