The shots, smuggled...

The shots, smuggled to the mag by our international network of spy photographers, clearly show the firm"s new family face. Inspiration for the front end is from the FTX Truck concept shown at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

The sharply creased bonnet lines and sculpted headlamps give a more modern and dynamic look compared to the old model. Chunky wheelarches and side mouldings help underline its 4x4 credentials, while the plastic bumper and grille assembly will improve the RAV4"s Euro NCAP crash test pedestrian safety rating.

The model will be fractionally longer and wider to add interior space, and three and five-door versions will be available. But it"s not just externally where things are changing; the RAV4 will get a better quality cabin with new materials and an emphasis on refinement for passengers.

This is the third incarnation of the RAV4, and the version shown in the mag is as much of a departure from the MkII as that was from the original, launched in the UK in 1996.

Mechanically the newcomer retains the existing full-time four-wheel-drive platform, giving good off-road ability while maintaining car-like performance on the road. The engine range will include current 2.0-litre VVT-i petrol and D-4D diesel options. A new oil-burner, using the Clean Power unit which was unveiled at last month"s Paris Motor Show, is also on the cards.

Our sources suggest that the RAV4 is also likely to benefit from Toyota"s hybrid technology, first seen on the Prius saloon. Engineers plan to extend the availability of these powerplants throughout the range over the next few years, with a view to offering petrol/electric variants of all of models by 2010.

Due to go on sale in spring 2006, the new RAV4 promises to be good value compared to rivals, with prices likely to remain similar to current models, starting at around н‚бЈ17,000 and rising to н‚бЈ23,000 for the top models.