Land Rover is looking to step up business car sales with the launch of the Discovery Sport model in January 2015.
In terms of the range, the seven-seat Discovery Sport (pictured) replaces the Freelander, although the firm is looking to distance the two models, and claimed 80% of customers will be conquest business for Land Rover. The new vehicle is the first in a massive two-step assault on the corporate sector in 2015, with sister brand Jaguar’s BMW 3-series-fighting XE arriving in the spring.
“In fleet, the Discovery Sport could be as important as the XE,” Jaguar Land Rover UK boss Jeremy Hicks told BusinessCar. “When you show people the package, they are struck by the versatility, and people with company cars pay tax so they feel they need to have a say in what they have and want a car to suit their needs.”
Although the launch line-up only has a 190hp diesel, there will be a sub-120g/km car in the second half of 2015. “We asked the top 10 contract hire companies to a meeting, and you could see their positive reaction to the XE, but they were possibly surprised by the Discovery Sport and what it could do in corporate,” said Hicks. “I think it will capture people’s imagination so there will be a demand pull from company car drivers.”
Target conquest cars include the obvious BMW X3 and Audi Q5, but Hicks also felt that the likes of BMW’s 3-series Touring could be ripe for exploitation.
He also confirmed that the Discovery Sport will come with a £499 five-year/60,000-mile service plan, as is the case with the Range Rover Evoque. “It’s part of the myth-busting – people think going back to the dealer is expensive, so it’s a key part of the package,” he said.
The launch model is the 190hp SD4, which emits 157g/km in manual form or 161g/km with the nine-speed automatic. Prices will start from £32,395 for the manual SE, ranging up to £42,995 for the HSE Lux automatic. The eD4 119g/km model will cost under £30,000.
