2011 Range Rover Evoque
| The automaker has not yet officially released pricing and all technical specifications for the Evoque. Here’s what they have released so far: |
| » Turbocharged four-cylinder unleaded and diesel engines |
| » A new 2-liter Si4 engine combines six-cylinder refinement and performance with four-cylinder fuel economy |
| » Stop-start technology will be on all diesel manual derivatives |
| » Both diesel and unleaded engines will be offered with an updated six-speed automatic transmission |
| » A front-wheel-drive option will be available |
Range Rover is now easier to love thanks to the upcoming introduction of the Evoque, which the automaker calls the smallest, lightest, most fuel-efficient Ranger Rover ever produced. The new model won’t be available in showrooms until fall 2011, but if press reports are accurate, it will be a contender almost immediately upon introduction.
The car was a big hit at the Los Angeles Auto Show where crowds stood 10-deep to get a peek.
“It won’t be long before Evoques are double-parked all the way down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills,” wrote the Mirror, the British tabloid.
USA Today also praised the five-door Range Rover that seemed fit for a “stylish town like Los Angeles.”
Although the Evoque has a smaller footprint than other models, it adds space to the cabin, including two more inches of shoulder room for rear seat passengers, “lots of headroom” and a “giant panoramic glass roof,” wrote USA Today.
Range Rover fans will recall the Evoque is actually an outgrowth of Range Rover’s LRX concept car. It has captured the design of the concept with a multi-terrain capability.
Range Rover is clearly hoping that since the Evoque is the lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever, it will bring new customers into dealerships.
“This is a highly relevant and contemporary vehicle that will suit the modern needs of our customers,” said Land Rover’s Managing Director Phil Popham. “The Range Rover Evoque will appeal to a new group of customers who may not have considered a Range Rover before.”
The features that bring about the high-quality, high-performance ride include lightweight construction, a new engine with turbo charger and direct injection, and low-CO2 systems such as electric power-assisted steering.
Although the Evoque will be greener than other Range Rovers, it looks and drives like one of the classic models.
The faces and shape of the car — with muscular shoulders, floating roofline and rising belt line — clearly sets the Evoque in the Range Rover family.
Inside, Range Rover buyers will find all the high-quality materials and craftsmanship they seek — soft, premium leather seating, twin needle stitching and gleaming surfaces in the cabin and on the instrument panel.
The automaker promises a gleaming driving experience as well.
“We’ve tuned the Range Rover Evoque’s chassis and electric power-assisted steering to deliver precise and responsive steering at lower speeds, making the Range Rover Evoque nimble and fun to drive,” said Murray Dietsch, director of Land Rover programs.
Generous ground clearance and nimble braking and handling also carry on the Range Rover tradition.
As you can imagine, the Evoque is chock full of touch-screen displays, intuitive connectivity, and comfortable extras such as heated windshields, steering wheels and seats.
