Discovery is redesigned and renamed for 2005. Unlike the Range Rover, brokered by prior owner BMW, the new LR3 was developed entirely under Ford. Against the Discovery it stands 5 inches longer on a wheelbase stretched a whopping 14 inches to 113.5. Width is trimmed 1.3 inches, height by 1.4, but curb weight goes up a hefty 330 lbs. Styling retains Discovery's square-rigged look with a split-level roofline, but is more modern, with a Range Rover-style face, a spare tire moved from outside to beneath the cargo floor, and a liftgate/tailgate instead of a swing-out door. Five-place seating remains standard. Two 3rd-row seats are again optional, but face forward instead of inward. Both 2nd- and 3rd-row seats fold flush.

On the mechanical side, Discovery's old overhead-valve V8 gives way to a newly enlarged 4.4-liter version of the overhead-cam V8 from sister Ford division Jaguar, tuned for around 300 hp. The only transmission is a 6-speed automatic with manual shift gate. Standard dual-range 4WD returns, as do locking center and rear differentials, traction control and ABS, but height-adjustable 4-wheel air-spring suspension replaces solid axles and metal springs. Another new wrinkle is Land Rover's Terrain Response system. By twisting a dial, drivers can calibrate chassis and engine systems to suit normal driving, slippery conditions, mud and ruts, sand, and low-speed rock crawling. Construction changes from pure body-on-frame to a self-supporting unibody on a new ladder-type chassis.

LR3 will almost certainly come with curtain side airbags and perhaps front torso side airbags. Equipment, pricing and other details aren't available yet but should be soon, so keep checking back with us.