Peta Lee salivates over the awesome new Range Rover Evoque, due to arrive in our showrooms in November.
One of the highlights of my trip to the Paris Motor Show 2010 (thanks again, Land Rover/Jaguar South Africa!), was the world launch of the new Range Rover Evoque, which attracted massive interest.
The radically style SUV is a dramatic departure from the previous typical box-like predecessor, and just might take some getting used to by diehard and perhaps more conservative fans of the brand.
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Hailed as “the smallest, lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever produced”, the Evoque, which will reach South African shores only at the end of this year, will be offered with two derivatives of the 2.2-litre turbodiesel motor. There will also be a new 2.0 Si4 petrol engine combining six-cylinder refinement and performance with four-cylinder fuel economy.
Boasting all new chassis specifications, the Evoque will naturally also have class-leading all-weather, all-surface capabilities with the legendary Land Rover Terrain Response.
Appearance wise, the Evoque is breathtaking. Dr Ralph Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO, said it “defines a new segment for premium compact SUVs that are more sporting and stylish”.
“The Evoque makes a strong statement about the future direction of the Range Rover brand and will have a powerful emotional appeal to a very broad range of premium car buyers,” he added.
Dramatic
There’s no doubt about that. “The dramatic rising belt line and distinctive falling roof profile, combined with its overall visual robustness and jewel-like quality, create the Evoque’s unique and highly desirable personality,” said Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern.
I sat in the car, and initial concerns that rear vision might be hampered by that shortened back window proved unfounded. I could see perfectly. The interior was awash with glorious leather and immaculate attention to detail, and offroaders will want to know that apart from extremely good road clearance, the Evoque has significantly better breakover, approach and departure angles than other premium compact SUVs.
Incidentally, the Evoque will be the first Range Rover to offer customers a choice between the standard full-time intelligent 4WD system, which delivers such outstanding performance and traction on all surfaces, and a low-carbon two-wheel drive option for enhanced fuel economy. The Evoque is also the lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover yet, with claimed fuel consumption (on the two-wheel drive, 110kW version) of only five litres per 100km and CO2 emissions of less than 130g/km.
The good news is that whatever it costs when it’s released on our shores, you’ll pay an emissions tax of only R832. Range Rover can’t yet give a final price for South Africans, as they’re still uncertain of what specs the car will have here.
Phil Popham, popular Land Rover managing director, summed up the launch perfectly: “The Evoque is a significant step forward for the Range Rover brand. This groundbreaking car brings new excitement and relevance to the marque, but remains true to the values of premium luxury and performance that have made Range Rover such an enduring success story over the past forty years.”
Happy 75th birthday, Range Rover, and congratulations on the birth of this wonderful new baby!
• No prices available at the time of going to print