Apart from some subtle exterior tweaks, the '06 model looks much like the '05. Pop the hood, though, and you'll come face to face with

Horsepower has been increased to 305 while peak torque remains 325 lb-ft, launching the big SUV to 100 km/h in just over nine seconds. (Photo: Land Rover Canada)

the biggest change to the new model. Gone is the BMW-sourced engine, a carryover from the days when BMW, which designed the current Ranger Rover, owned the Land Rover company, replaced by a new Jaguar-sourced 4.4-litre V8 that is more powerful, yet less thirsty than the German engine.

Horsepower has been increased to 305 while peak torque remains 325 lb-ft, launching the big SUV to 100 km/h in just over nine seconds - which is almost a full second quicker than last year's model. In case you were wondering, a version of the same 4.2-litre supercharged V8 that first appeared in Jaguar's XJR, and then in the XKR and S-Type R makes 400-horsepower in the supercharged HSE.

In

The off-road ruggedness of Land Rover's Range Rover is pretty much unequalled. (Photo: Land Rover Canada)

addition to the new engine, the '06 HSE features improvements to the brakes, steering system, suspension, interior, and also to sound dampening.

The off-road ruggedness of Land Rover's Range Rover is pretty much unequalled, with only its own Land Rover LR3, Jeep's new Commander and recently updated Grand Cherokee, Volkswagen's Touareg, Porsche's Cayenne (which is more or less a Touareg with Porsche styling inside and out, and a unique V8 engine), Audi's new Q7 (which is basically a Touareg in drag) and lest I not forget, the mighty Mercedes-Benz G-Class as well as the legendary Toyota Land Cruisers, the latter available in Canada in Lexus GX and LX nomenclatures, capable of putting up a decent fight while still maintaining a high degree of civility.