Long touted as the ‘Best 4by4byFar’ Land Rover has offered revamped versions of the their top selling SUVs, including the world-acclaimed Range Rover.

And last Sunday, Kingston Industrial Garage (KIG), local Land Rover dealer, unveiled the 2010 Range Rover Sport and Discovery 4 at the plush Boon Hall Oasis in Stony Hill.

While the Land Rover range of vehicles (pardon the pun) is wider to include the Defender and Freelander, KIG executives say that the smaller Freelander SUV would be too costly to compete locally in the sector.

“The Freelander would have to be on a special-order basis because it is a little pricey,” shares Dawn Green KIG marketing executive.

The Defender is also treated pretty much the same way, she added.

And so, KIG’s showroom offering is aimed at the premium vehicle market where the Land Rover vehicles have carved a noticeable niche locally.

“It was excellent, customers were quite pleased,” Green says of the Boone Hall expose.

Interestingly, Green tells Auto that more people at the launch expressed a liking for, and interest in, the Discovery 4 over the much-heralded Range Rover Sport.

“We actually sold a Discovery 4 at the launch,” she reveals.

The higher-priced Range Rover Sport starts at approximately $12.3 million while the Discovery 4 sells for approximately $10.5 million.

“The prices are very competitive compared to other SUVs in the segment,” Green commented, while urging Auto not to reveal prices of the high-end luxury vehicles.

“We would prefer if people call us,” she insists.

However, despite the rage surrounding the ‘Range’, both vehicles share the same engine and transmission, only the body stlyes and interiors are different.

The engines have been upgraded from the previous 2.7 turbo to 3.0 Litre TDV6 twin-turbo diesel for the 2010 models.

Incidentally, the Range also offers a 5.0 Litre supercharged petrol version.

And according to the manufacturers, the vehicles’ fuel consumption in the diesel versions has improved by nine per cent while the CO2 emissions have been lowered.

As expected, off-road features, such as hill descent and traction control are present. Thrown in for added driver safety is a refined stability control that automatically slows the vehicle if a corner is taken too fast and a five-camera surround for close-to 360 degree view.

ROVER SPECS

Range Rover Sport – LRTDV6 3.0 litre

Drive train: 4-wheel drive

0 to 60 mph: 9 seconds

MPG: 30.7

Wheelbase (in.): 108

Length (in.): 188

Width (in.): 78.8

Height (in.): 70.4

Land Rover Discovery 4

Drive train: 4-Wheel Drive

0 to 60 mph: 9 seconds

MPG: 30.7

Wheelbase (in.): 113.6

Length (in.): 190.1

Width (in.): 79.6 in

Height (in.): 74.3