Could 2011’s most exciting new car convert into a cabriolet? The idea isn’t as wild as you may think. Speculation is mounting that a soft-top version of the groundbreaking Range Rover Evoque is in the pipeline.
And when we broached the subject with Land Rover, a spokesperson added fuel to the fire.
“A convertible Evoque wouldn’t be the maddest brand extension. It isn’t a totally crazy idea,” she admitted. “All I can say is watch this space. We’ve got lots of ideas for the Evoque.”
The three-door Evoque is the first-ever Land Rover or Range Rover coupé, and would lend itself perfectly to a layout with a retractable fabric roof. And our exclusive image shows how the head-turning convertible could look.
Anyone thinking a roofless SUV isn’t possible need only check out Nissan’s line-up. Earlier this year, the firm introduced a convertible version of the Murano, called the Cross Cabriolet.
This four-seater crossover has a canvas hood, and is designed specifically for American customers – a lucrative market the Evoque cabriolet could also exploit.
Land Rover claims a key part of the appeal of the regular car – on sale as a three and five-door from September – is the fact buyers can have it anyway they want it. A cabriolet model would broaden that choice even further.
A unique special edition of the Evoque, with an interior designed by Victoria Beckham, has also been confirmed for release early next year. This is an important component of the marketing push behind the newcomer.
For an alternative review of the latest Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 4x4 visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
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the colour is awful..... apart from that could work OK.
And so the bastardisation of another iconic brand begins. First, it was the Mini in all its ever uglier guises, now the Range Rover brand may become as diluted.
The Evoque is a (currently) great looking soft road 4x4. Since when do 4x4s become pillarless soft tops?!
I'll leave the comment about the beige colour alone - I presume the graphics department were having an off day at Range Rover/ Auto Express....
And so the bastardisation of another iconic brand begins. First, it was the Mini in all its ever uglier guises, now the Range Rover brand may become as diluted.
The Evoque is a (currently) great looking soft road 4x4. Since when do 4x4s become pillarless soft tops?!
I'll leave the comment about the beige colour alone - I presume the graphics department were having an off day at Range Rover/ Auto Express....
Land Rover, don't wreck a perfectly great 4x4 by chopping the roof off.
Also don't put this colour in your current line up of vehicles, i'd hate to think of the arty fart names most manufactures give to the vast aray of colours
I can think of a few words they could use, but probably not best place to write them down.
Also I live in Essex and I could well image the Essex women / mothers with the tans that if they owned this car they'd have the best of both worlds! trying to driving a 4x4 and have no roof!
Please Land Rover I beg you NO, you're doing well don't throw it all away, maybe think of a new defender or Freelander?
Landrover have been making soft tops since they began production in the late 1940's, so actually a soft top 4x4 is nothing new, before Landrover it was the Willys Jeep.
Hopefully AEs awful artists impression ends up being nothing like the car!
I want to trade in my boxster and my freelander...and this is just what I have been waiting for...I love it RR. Thank you. Pity there is a 6 months waiting list, early feb before I can get my hands on one. Just as winter is ending?
not a bad idea. guessing an autobiography version maybeo on the cards. Also i'm pretty Holland and Holland have set their eye's on this to see what they can do with its rear boot. if they stockpile guns in it's boot cabinet then i'm sure UK government can find funding to buy a few hundred for arming the libyan rebels
About as pretty as a wart on the end of your nose!
I phoned a builder and said, "I'd like a skip outside my house."
He replied, "Well I'm not stopping you."
The new punchline would be:"Well buy an Evoque cabriolet."
...I can barely type for laughing...
Yes, make it. There must be a market for a convertible like this. We had a Range Rover Sport and my wife wanted a convertible so we downgraded to a Mini. Would have definitely brought this.
A convertible Range Rover will be the ultimate posers car. Will sell well in Cheshire and Monaco, and the second car.
The series 1 - 1948 - had soft top models as did the series 2, 2a, 3, Defender 90 &110 & every length in between. The Original Range Rover had a Cabriolet concept. The Freelander 1 has a soft top model. So not much of a bastardisation there and if an extension to your argument is that the brand is too diverse, just look at the History of Land Rover and how it has created 100's+ vehicle designs to fit almost any requirement or function.
I may happen to live where there is a Land Rover Museum that houses a collection with a plethora of different and unique models :-)
I am frequently forced to react and make comment upon the often cynical - even ridiculous, puerile and downright silly remarks made by some respondents.
Thankfully there are people like 'fittedwithfuse' who help to reassure me - that there are mature and sensible people registered to make comment upon the AutoExpress reports.
Motoring, and the Car particularly, is one of the most subjective of topics and inevitably 'concepts' will not always produce the raw enthusiasm which the manufacturers seek however they would be severely criticised by the very same people if they just churned out the same old stuff year-on-year. 'Damned if they do and damned if they don't' is an apt expression here.
For what it is worth I say 'Well done Land Rover' the spirit of 1948 is still alive and don't be deterred by the idiotic rants of the school-boy club.
Not in that color ... BUT IT LOOKS GOOD TOPLESS!
Sure Jeep and Landrover began with soft tops long before the term SUV was coined, however there is one key element that a cabriolet Evoque would lack - "Utility". No luggage space. It could be argued that the Evoque is a small Range Rover - luxury, evolutionary looks, still reasonably capable off road, but a cabriolet model....? Bottom line is - will it make Tata money, and judging by the mini experiene - yes, SUV loads.
........ oh why?
..."The schoolboy club is well and active still" Hmmm, "Idiotic rants"? "Frequently forced to react..."? Gosh! Struck a nerve? No, not rants, more like "opinions". Try getting over it, old chap. Life's too short.
What a ridiculous idea and how much of a prat is anyone going to look driving that monstrosity?
On second thoughts, yes build it - will fill me with laughter everytime I see one - a bit like the X6!
Sometimes these pages are so entertaining. For what it's worth LR have identified a market and are going to run with it, good for them I say because the profit made from this vehicle will be reinvested back into the company which has got to be a good thing.
Although I disagree with most of your comment everton2004, I do agree that the X6 is an abomination. I will admit that historically I am not a huge fan of BMW's current lineup, with the notable exception of the 1M Coupe, which is a terrific car.
....
If you think the concept is daft, try telling that to Porsche for the Cayenne.....by far the most numerous SUV on the Costa del Sol, and more numerous than any other Porsche there. They are almost common. Porsche are certainly making a tidy sum with them there....if you want to see a daft idea, maybe a cabriolet named 'Wind'? Marketing department didn't think that through...awful car too....Renault seem to have lost their direction.
I think it's 'kin' ugly but it's better than the squashed doorstop design. LR design has become a joke since Bling Motor Works had their finger in the pie! Where is the practicality that LR vehicles were once know for? How about a "mini" Defender built on this platform. Dump the bling. Substitute simple curves, aluminium bodywork, rubber mats and a simple canvas top. Please!
Looks good topples