Range Rover 2010 gets engine upgrade

The long-running current-generation Range Rover has received an upgrade for the 2010 model year. The Indian-owned company is soldiering on well at a time when expensive polluting vehicles are being shunned. The latest version debuted at the 2010 New York Auto Show.

The 2010 Range Rover shares a set of all-new V8 engines with the Range Rover Sport, being both more powerful and more efficient than before, while being as quick as the Sport in a straight line. The base engine now is a 375 hp 5.0-litre V8 with 508 Nm of torque, good for a 0-96 kph run of 7.2 seconds. The better engine is a 510 hp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 with 624 Nm of torque, good for a 0-96 kph run of 5.9 seconds.

Subtle exterior design changes include a redone front-end with LED headlights, and a few other equally-unnoticeable changes along the sides and the rear end.

The upgraded interior loses some of its unique shapes to become more truck-like and unattractive. However, new features include a 12-inch LCD screen with ‘virtual’ dials and information displays instead of actual physical gauges.

Other mechanical improvements, besides the engines, include Adaptive Dynamics technology to improve the Range Rover’s ride quality, new brakes for all versions, adaptive cruise control, updated Terrain Response and Dynamic Stability Control systems for all-terrain performance, Emergency Brake Assist, available Blind Spot Monitoring and Surround Camera system, and other luxury features.

Expect the new GCC-spec model to hit the streets of Dubai and Abu Dhabi sometime after summer.

To keep track of local prices and model specs as they become available, visit the Range Rover buyer guide.