Freelander replaced

Land Rover has begun production of the new Discovery Sport, which replaces the much-loved Freelander with a new seven-seat platform.

The first car off the production line was unveiled to the media at the firm’s Halewood factory near Liverpool, where the first model of the new Discovery family will be built.

As part of a high-profile new commercial partnership, Land Rover will give Discovery Sport ’number one’ to the world’s first commercial space flight provider, Virgin Galactic.

The British 4x4 maker has already supplied a number of Range Rovers and Discovery 4s for use at Virgin Galactic’s Spaceport America facility in New Mexico, USA.

The first examples will reach customers early in 2015.