Spy shots: Land Rover Discovery (LR3) facelift

Land Rover is currently in the process of updating three of its SUVs, with prototypes for facelifted versions of the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and now the Discovery 3, or LR3 as it's known in the U.S., all being sighted in the past couple of months. These latest shots of Land Rover's midsize SUV undergoing cold weather testing show that there will only be minor changes implemented for the 2010 model year update.

Earlier spy shots had nabbed the vehicle with some remnants of the older model still clinging to its exterior, though the previous prototype was believed to be testing a 5.0L V8 engine option as well. Now the spy shots reveal what the updated look will bring, including a new front and rear fascia, square fog lights and reshaped exhaust outlets.

A new 5.0L V8 engine, to be shared by the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, would come to the LR3/Discovery in slightly detuned form, if it indeed comes at all. The engine is being jointly developed by Land Rover and Jaguar for use across the model lineup and recently debuted in the XFR in supercharged form.

Other updates expected to appear on the 2010 LR3/Discovery range include new wheel patterns, body-colored wheel arches, new door-handle finishes and clear side repeater lenses like those on the Range Rover Sport.

Sales of the updated SUV should start by the middle of the year.