Land Rover Vision Concept teased | video

The Land Rover Vision Concept will be presented at the New York motor show later this month, previewing the upcoming replacement for the Discovery. But it also heralds a new sub-brand, spawning a separate group of family four-wheel drives.

With Range Rover covering the premium end of the market, the Discovery sub-brand will target more family focused buyers. The new Defender, released a few years later, will also become its own sub-brand, dedicated to 'lifestyle adventure' style 4WDs. With all vehicles placed under the three families in Land Rover's lineup, the British manufacturer will be able to fill more niches and target different buyer groups.

The Vision Concept is the showcase for the full sized Discovery, due in 2015, but the new sub-brand will also cover the third generation Freelander that will arrive next year – possibly bearing the nameplate  Discovery Sport and expected to feature an optional third row of seats. Further Discovery sub-models may emerge soon after.

The Vision Concept teaser video shows all the Discovery's trademark design cues – an escalated roof, stadium seating, flat surfaces and a prominent grill. However, the teaser shows a more modern shape and feel, and a softer interior design with Land Rover's rotary gear selector and terrain response, chrome detailing and a large touch screen mounted on the dashboard. A highly versatile interior with rear seats that slide and tilt individually signals intentions to appeal to families who enjoy the outdoors.

Details are scarce on technical specifications on the new Discovery, but the big news is the move to a monocoque platform, which should shave up to half a tonne off the current model's weight. However, the 183kW/600Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel V6 is expected to continue, as well as the 276kW/510Nm 5.0-litre V8 and the new 250kW/450Nm V6 petrol engine.

Watch the Land Rover Vision Concept video op our desktop site.