Land Rover busts out Disco 4 and updated RR Sport

Land Rover is using the New York Auto Show to unveil its 2010 model year Range Rover Sport and Discovery 4 -- and headlining the upgrades to both vehicles are new, more efficient powerplants.

Offered in both models is a new LR-TDV6 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine that was co-developed with Jaguar.

Replacing the 2.7-litre oiler currently available in the Range Rover Sport and Discovery 3, the new 3.0-litre unit serves up 181kW and 600Nm -- useful improvements on the 140kW and 440Nm produced by the former.

Land Rover claims the 600 Newtons belted out by the new engine eclipses the torque quota of any six-cylinder passenger-vehicle diesel in the world. The company is also boasting of 9 per cent improvements in economy and CO2 emissions over the 2.7-litre V6.

The parallel sequential turbocharging system of the LR-TDV6 3.0-litre makes use of a larger, primary turbo most of the time, while the smaller secondary turbo remains dormant when higher power is not required, reducing pumping losses and fuel consumption.

A third-generation common rail injection system with piezo injectors and an energy-saving fuel metering system is also said to make a substantial contribution to fuel economy.

Meanwhile, the range-topping Range Rover Sport gains a new 5.0-litre supercharged V8 that supersedes the blown 4.2 unit that propels the existing flagship.

We've already had a preview of the engine in the Jaguar XFR (more here) and can vouch for its smoothness and potency.

Here's the raw stats: the 5.0-litre V8 puts out 370kW and 616Nm, and these outputs comfortably shade the 287kW and 550Nm produced by the soon-to-be-replaced4.2-litre engine.

Land Rover claims CO2 emissions and fuel consumption are also improved by 5.6 per cent and 6.2 per cent respectively.

Also debuting in the MY2010 Range Rover Sport (and Range Rover) is what's claimed to be the world's first production system using model-based predictive technology to continually optimise the settings of DampTronic Valve Technology damper units, benefiting ride and handling, according to the manufacturer.

The Range Rover Sport and Discovery 4 also benefit from Trailer Stability Assist, a towing aid that detects trailer oscillations and intervenes using the brakes and by reducing engine torque.

Both Range Rover Sport and Discovery 4 gain improvements to the Terrain Response system -- and revisions to the rock crawl program are claimed to reduce roll when traversing boulders, delivering a more composed ride through rocky terrain.

Meanwhile, the addition of a new 'sand launch control' is said to prevent wheels digging in when driving away in soft sand thanks to revisions to the traction control system.

The Hill Descent Control system has also been enhanced with the addition of Gradient Release Control, which inhibits the initial rate of acceleration to make descent of steep inclines smoother.

Visual changes to the MY2010 Land Rovers include smooth, sculpted, frontal surfaces with revised bumpers that incorporate 'anti-drag lips'.

Grilles are restyled too, and headlights include both LED daytime running lights and High Beam Assist, which switches on the lights when ambient light levels are low, and dips headlights automatically when oncoming traffic is detected.

New 19 and optional 20-inch wheels are available for the Discovery, which also has larger brakes as standard.

Both the Range Rover Sport and the Discovery 4 interiors have been comprehensively restyled and feature new facias, doors, seats, consoles, instruments, switchgear and steering wheels.