The Range Rover is the flagship Land Rover model sold in the United States and worldwide. First introduced in 1970, the nameplate has been retired and revived numerous times. The third-generation Range Rover was introduced as a 2002 model and remains in production today. Despite being on the market for several years now, the SUV still looks modern next to its rivals, thanks in part to a number of significant revisions over the years, including a major update for 2010 onward.

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The Range Rover's 2010 update includes new engines, subtle exterior design changes, and a vastly improved interior, complete with a 12-inch LCD screen in place of a physical instrument cluster.

The base model Range Rover -- equipped with a 375 horsepower V8 -- lists from $78,425, while the optional 510 horsepower supercharged V8 raises the 'ute's price to $94,275. Both engines come mated to the ZF HP28 6-speed automatic transmission, optimized to provide rapid shifts.

The two engines were developed in conjunction with Jaguar, which is the first time engines have been designed from the onset with the requirements of both brands in mind. Although the basic engine architecture of both engines is the same for each brand, Land Rover engine requirements differ to satisfy all-terrain needs. For example, the engines feature a deeper sump to accommodate the extreme tilting angles experienced when driving the Range Rover off-road, and to accommodate the front differential which attaches to it. In addition, belt drives are waterproofed, as are the alternator, air conditioning compressor, power steering pump and starter motor.

The new naturally aspirated vehicle completes the zero to 60 mph sprint in 7.2 seconds. For those who want more performance, the supercharged unit can propel the 'ute from rest to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds.

Other 2010 improvements include subtle exterior revisions, featuring changes to the headlights, grille and bumper. The new headlights feature the Range Rover's trademark "interlocking circle" design, but are more clearly visible, day or night, with LED running lights. The interior benefits from more luxurious materials and finishes, not to mention improved comfort. As mentioned above, the new instrument panel replaces a traditional cluster with a single LCD screen. The screen presents all essential driver information via cleverly designed 'virtual' dials and graphical displays.

Active safety aids include Adaptive Cruise Control, Emergency Brake Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, available Automatic High Beam Assist (AHBA) and an available surround camera system. The Range Rover's suspension system automatically adapts to surface conditions, with sensors on each damper providing feedback 500 times per second.

The front brakes for the naturally aspirated vehicle are four-piston units mated to 14.2-inch ventilated front discs, while the rear brakes are single-piston units and with 13.8-inch rotors. The supercharged model sports 15-inch discs with six-piston calipers in the front, and 14.3-inch discs with single-piston calipers in the rear.

The Terrain Response system boasts a series of improvements, including improved performance when tackling challenging terrain like sand or large rocks. For soft sand conditions, a "sand launch control" mode makes for noticeably easier drive-away. New, speed-dependent wheel-slip targets for the traction control system permit only very limited initial wheel-slip, helping to prevent the wheels digging down into the sand. The system also has an improved rock crawl program for better control while traversing boulders or driving through rocky terrain.