THE CAR: Chevrolet Captiva

Borrowing a trim-level name frequently used here in the U.S. by Chevrolet, the Captiva LTZ is the new range-topper in the SUV's UK range. Powered by a 150-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine matted to either a five-speed manual or automatic transmission, the Captiva LTZ is available for both private and fleet users.

Priced from £27,305 and £28,630 on-the-road for the manual and automatic version respectively, the seven-seater Captiva LTZ features 18-inch alloys and unique rear light clusters.

Standard equipment includes full leather trim with heated front seats, electronic climate control, parking sensors, cruise control, electrically-adjustable driver's seat, automatic headlamp control, rain sensor wipers, and electrically-folding mirrors.

In addition to audible distance sensors to assist parking, the LTZ also gets a reversing camera as standard. The camera operates through the 7-inch satellite navigation unit display screen.

Safety features including ABS, ESC and traction control, front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger, plus roof curtain airbags.

Chevrolet's European arm is moving along with the development of the facelifted Captiva that's due to go on sale on the other side of the Atlantic later this year. Judging by these spy photos, if not all, most changes appear to be concentrated on the SUV's redesigned front end that looks heavily influenced from the Aveo RS concept we saw at this year's Detroit show.

Details remain scarce for now, but it is possible that Chevy might also perform some upgrades to the 2011 Captiva's interior and mechanical hardware.

The same changes will also pass on the compact SUV's siblings, the Australia-market Holden Captiva 7 that's sold alongside its sister model, the Opel Antara-based/rebadged Captiva 5 (known in the States as the Saturn Vue) and the South Korea-market Daewoo Winstorm.