Like its sibling company, Jaguar, Land Rover is hoping a power boost for its two largest vehicles will meet with a corresponding boost in sales. The British SUV maker unveiled freshened, more-powerful versions of its Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models at the 2009 New York Auto Show.

2010 Land Rover Range Rover and Range Rover Sport
Like the 2010 Jaguar XF and XK, which launched at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the 2010 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will sport new 5.0-liter V8 engines. These new powerplants employ high-pressure gasoline direct injection designed to increase power and fuel efficiency. Base versions of the flagship Range Rover and smaller Range Rover Sport will have 375 horsepower. Top-end Supercharged versions of both SUVs will employ a boosted version of that V8 and produce 510 horsepower. A 6-speed automatic will be the sole transmission for all models.

The 2010 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport receive some other upgrades, including freshened exterior styling and revised interiors. They will still employ all-wheel drive with low-range gearing for off-road use. An updated version of Land Rover's Terrain Response system includes driver-selectable powertrain and suspension tweaks designed to accommodate road types that run the gamut from asphalt to mud, sand, and rock.

Available luxury touches include leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, front- and rear-obstacle detection, four-zone automatic climate control, and dual-screen DVD entertainment. New for the Range Rover is a TFT (thin film transistor) instrument panel with "virtual" gauges.

Though pricing was not announced, figure on a moderate increase over corresponding 2009 models when these luxury off-roaders go on sale later this year.

CG Says...
It makes sense for Jaguar and Land Rover to align their drivetrains as much as possible in order to keep expenses reasonable. Hopefully these new engines will deliver on their promise of greater fuel efficiency, as the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport are among the thirstiest vehicles Consumer Guide has ever tested. With most test models returning 11-14 mpg, any improvement over these dreadful figures will be most welcome.

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