The Range Rover Sport, which was introduced in 2005, gets its first significant refresh for the 2010 model year. A new front-end design features a lower grille, new headlamps with LED lights arranged in a Gatling-gun style, a new front bumper, and new front fenders with restyled side vents (the styling clich of the moment).
Inside, there's a new dashboard, new seats (with electrically adjustable side bolsters), new door panels, a keyless ignition, and a new steering wheel with standard shift paddles. To create a richer-feeling environment, the Range Rover Sport interior has more leather, more padded surfaces, and new ambient lighting.
For 2010, Land Rover scraps its old V-8s (a normally aspirated 4.4-liter and supercharged 4.2-liter). In their place are two 5.0-liter, direct-injected units co-developed with Jaguar. The standard engine makes 375 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque and the supercharged version is rated at 510 hp and 461 lb-ft. Factory-measured 0-to-60-mph times are 7.2 seconds and 5.9 seconds, respectively. Chassis revisions complement the new engines. The brakes in both models have been upgraded, adaptive dampers are added (for the Supercharged model), and the Terrain Response System adds a new Dynamic mode (which changes throttle and shift mapping, damper firmness, and steering effort).
Other new technologies include a 360-degree-view camera, emergency brake assist for the adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams.
The 2010 Range Rover Sport should arrive at dealerships in October.