It looks like 2009 will be a very busy year for Land Rover. Three of the brand’s major models are getting engine, interior and exterior upgrades next year, and our spy shots reveal the look of one of the most important of them: this is the 2009 Range Rover Sport. This development mule is in early testing ahead of an anticipated winter 2009 UK launch. It's running a new 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine with a seven-speed automatic gearbox, which will replace the current 4.2-litre V8 motor in the Range Rover and Range Sport, helping them to comply with forthcoming European emissions laws. The new 5.0-litre motor will be available in both normally aspirated and supercharged form, the latter developing some 500bhp in the new Porsche Cayenne Turbo-chasing Range Rover Sport Supercharged.The cars' new seven-speed automatic gearbox is being developed by ZF and will debut in the BMW 7-series before being introduced on the Range Rover.There’ll also be a series of cabin upgrades to the Range Rover, Discovery and Range Sport, with the alterations to the last models in that list being the most substantial. Land Rover's current satellite navigation system will be replaced with a touch-screen unit, reducing the number of buttons necessary on the dashboard, while a new four-spoke steering wheel, similar to the one found on the Jaguar XK and XF, plus some Jaguar-derived switchgear, will also come in. This equipment sharing will help to cut costs on the production line. There’ll also be mild cosmetic changes to the front and rear bumpers of all three models, as well as the grilles.Meanwhile, both the Discovery and the Range Rover Sport will benefit from new, premium-feel more upmarket interiors. Land Rover wants to bring the cabin quality of both models into line with the Range Rover, and in particular eliminate the Discovery’s utilitarian feel. Both are expected to get tweaked front and rear bumpers and better standard equipment levels. It’s also likely that we’ll see the Discovery’s current 2.7-litre V6 diesel grow to 3.0-litres.
