Today at EBACE 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland, Bombardier announced the Learjet 70 and 75, longer-range variant successors to the Model 40XR and 45XR. Set to enter service early next year, both jets will feature a new Bombardier Vision flight deck based on the Garmin G5000 digital avionics suite, complete with synthetic vision.

Inside, the aircraft will offer a black and white interior inherited from the Learjet 85, including new seats and an advanced cabin management system with individual pop-up touchscreen monitors. The cabins will also have LED lighting, a large baggage area and a spacious galley.

Increased engine power comes courtesy of a souped-up Honeywell engine, the TFE731-40BR, and both jets will offer an improved takeoff field length of less than 4,500 feet, almost 200 feet shorter than that of the 40XR. A new canted-winglet design will improve aerodynamics, and the OEM says the new Learjets will offer up to a 9 percent improvement in field performance and a 4 percent improvement in fuel efficiency.

The six-passenger Learjet 70 can connect city pairs such as Chicago-San Juan and Toluca-Minneapolis, while the Model 75 can fly four people from Los Angeles to Toronto or Mumbai to Bangkok. With eight passengers, the Learjet 75 will have a range of about 1,950 nm.

Bombardier said it has more than 50 firm orders and letters of intent for the two new types.