08/08/2008 03:39. The first facelift for the not quite three-years old Toyota RAV4 has been announced by the importer for North America, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA.

In NAFTA markets, the updated vehicle will be known as the 2009 RAV4. Versions for other countries, which, apart from the lack of Canadian-spec big bumpers and turn signals within the headlamps, should be nearly identical.

Though it continues to be built in China and Japan, the OEM's new Woodstock plant in Ontario is also due to start production shortly.

Powertrain changes consist of a new 2.5-litre I4 engine to replace the 2.4-litre unit, while the 3.5-litre V6 is unchanged. The new unit produces 179hp (133kW), 13 more horsepower than the base engine in TMS' 2008 mode year RAV4 range.

The sole transmission for the 2.5-litre... // Automotive World