WATCH: JLR unveils its new Discovery Sport

The Land Rover, which will replace the popular Freelander, has been glimpsed in a string of official teasers, spy shots and leaked images but this is the first time the car-buying public gets a proper look at the first of a three-strong family of 'Discos' that will be introduced in the coming months and years.

The new Discovery Sport SD4 was unveiled last night at Spaceport America in New Mexico as part of a link-up between JLR and the Virgin Galactic passenger spacecraft project which will give four friends the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to space as part of a digital competition at www.landrover.com/gotospace.

The film shot at Spaceport America forms part of Land Rover's biggest ever digitally-led marketing campaign, working across 40 countries to launch the New Discovery Sport.

The car will be able to seat up to seven people in a vehicle that would normally only be able to hold five, because engineering changes to the rear axle have opened up more flexible cabin space behind the second row of seats.

JLR marketing director Phil Popham said: "Discovery Sport's versatility is a key differentiator. It is quite simply the most accomplished vehicle in its segment."

The car comes with a pedestrian airbag, emergency braking, a state of the art body that combines ultra-high-strength steel and lightweight aluminium, along with an all-new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

But, for those in the Black Country, the most important business is under the bonnet. At its launch, at the Paris Motor Show in October, it will feature the 2.2 diesel engine currently powering the Freelander.

But next year it will be fitted with the four cylinder Ingenium diesels that will be made at the new £500 million factory on the i54 site, on the border of Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire.

It will provide fuel-sipping performance for the car, which will go on sale next year with prices starting at around £32,395 – more expensive than the old Freelander but nearly £9,000 cheaper than a current Discovery.

The same Wolverhampton engines will go into the new Jaguar, the XE, which is due to be unveiled to the world at Earls Court in London next week with an evening that will include performances from Kaiser Chiefs, Emeli Sandé and Eliza Doolittle.

Around 1,400 jobs will eventually be created at Wolverhampton where engines will be made for a string of new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles.