British premium car maker Land Rover has taken the wraps off its latest generation Range Rover Sport model.

Hot on the heels of the introduction of the flagship Range Rover variant, the Sport was given its public debut at the New York Auto Show.

Borrowing a considerable amount of technology from its bigger brother while adopting a look closer to that of the successful Evoque, the Sport promises to be more agile thanks to an aggressive weigh loss programme and more practical thanks to increases in cabin space.

UK buyers will be able to choose from a small range of performance orientated diesel engines - other markets also get a supercharged petrol option - plus there will be a power-folding third row of seats, raising the total count to seven.

In an unusual move, Land Rover will be offering buyers a choice of transmissions. For anyone seeking the full-on 4x4 experience there will be the familiar set-up of a high-low transmission, while a more conventional alternative boasting a slight rearward bias is likely to prove popular with owners expecting to spend almost all their time on the road.

Expect to pay a little more than the outgoing car when the new Sport goes on sale this autumn, which will mean a figure close to £60,000 for the entry-level six-cylinder diesel variant.