By contrast, it seems inevitable that Gerry McGovern will have left Land Rover long before the world discovers that nobody over the age of 14 will be able to sit in the back of his impending reverse Tardis (the LRX concept) without rubbing off all their hair on the roof lining.

Since somebody, somewhere decided that the general public has the attention span of hot-buttered toast, treats cars like white goods and expects a favourite model to be facelifted every 28 minutes, there is at least a fighting chance that the man responsible will actually have to accompany his latest creation to the launch. Such was the case with the 2010 Range Rover, and it’s a pity McGovern didn’t attend the launch because I really wanted a word…

LAND ROVERS are used to coping with the rough stuff but the global recession is proving to be the company’s toughest mountain to climb.

The 4×4 sector has suffered worse than any in the downturn, to such an extent that Land Rover sales have slumped more than 30 per cent from the 2008 record.

But Land Rover, like their vehicles, have always been resilient and they are about to start a major product offensive with the launch of three new models - the Range Rover, Range Sport and Discovery - over the next few months.

For 2010, the Range Rover gets a variety of upgrades aimed at improving the driving experience: both available engines have an extra dose of horsepower, the interior is even more luxurious, and the level of technology, both inside the cabin and under the skin, is more impressive than ever.

The Look

We’ll forgive you if your eyes can’t detect the slight changes in appearance from a distance. In addition to a revised grille, LEDs around the headlamps and taillamps, and slightly different side gills with LEDs that function as turn indicators, the fog lights move from the front bumper down to the sides of the air intake. The current Range Rover has aged quite well, so only minor changes seem appropriate.

Land Rover has revealed UK prices for its new Range Rover Sport and Discovery models.

The Discovery 4 will start from £31,995 and the Range Rover Sport from £44,895.

The new models will have a reworked front end, new interior and an improved off-road system.

The entry level TDV6 Sport SE will feature 19″ alloys, touch-screen sat nav, stability control, a nine-speaker Harmon/Kardon audio system, iPod/USB connectivity, Bluetooth and leather seat facings. The HSE (£50,595) adds 20″ alloys, rear view parking camera, DAB radio, leather/alcantara seat facings. The TD V8 HSE (£56,995) also includes, a new dynamic mode on the all-terrain system, adaptive cruise contol, high beam assist and bi-xenon headlights.

RRsport.co.uk set up a head to head between the 5 litre and 4.2 litre Sports.

A great video showing the power difference that the two lumps deliver. Send them both down the track and see how long it takes to get up to 100mph and back to zero again.

The Black 5 litre is a 2010 model year supercharged Sport, the Orange 4.2 is also supercharged but looks like it takes almost twice as long to complete the test.

Both vehicles were supplied by Charles Hurst Land Rover in London.

This article was taken from: lro.com