Land Rover is planning a faster and sportier edition of the Range Rover Evoque, likely to be badged Evoque Sport, Auto Express has learned. The news surfaced during an interview with design director Gerry McGovern at the Beijing Motor Show.
“You can go too far with the Evoque, but what’s so right about the car is it has what I call killer proportions,” McGovern said. “For the moment, we’re looking at the cabriolet and special editions – we could do a more overtly sporty one, for example.”
Executives have hinted at a performance version of the Evoque in the past, but this is the first time anyone has said it outright. The revelation was well timed, too, because across the show hall Audi was unveiling the RS Q3 concept, which previews a direct rival for this car.
“Eighty per cent of Evoque buyers are completely new to the Land Rover brand,” McGovern said. That, he added, allowed the brand to push the boundaries, as well as broaden its appeal with models such as the Evoque Cabrio and Special Edition with Victoria Beckham. But it’s the Evoque Sport that fans have been waiting for.
McGovern didn’t go as far as to confirm which engines would be offered, but a development of the current 240bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo seems a safe bet. The Ford-sourced EcoBoost engine has already been tuned to 296bhp in British specialist Radical’s stripped-out SR3 supercar, so more power is certainly possible.
Given the popularity of diesel-powered Evoques, a performance diesel could also be on the cards. This would use the 2.2-litre SD4 engine, boosted from 190bhp to around 210bhp, and do 0-60mph in a little over seven seconds.
Land Rover’s designers are expected to add bigger wheels and a beefy bodykit. Sports suspension will drop the car by around 10mm, while bigger brakes and sharper steering will ensure the handling is improved.
It’s early days in the Evoque’s lifecycle, and supply is struggling to meet demand. So don’t expect the Evoque Sport to debut until late next year at the earliest.
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If its going to be a real sport one at least stick a real sized engine in it!
Also, the Audi isn't really a rival for this car is it, I mean why would anyone buy a Q3 over this, it would be beyond me.
With the way fuel prices are going this model may be a good seller in the U.S but not in the u.k. Best to stick with the SD4 190 break diesel which is punchy and still returns around 50mpg. Nice idea though, pity we can't afford to run it here in the u.k..
That looks awesome-want one....
I don't see the point of this vehicle. It's a product of bling over usefulness, which was not what Land Rover was all about. It looks squashed at the back and the green house is too small for decent visibility plus it can't haul anything of any significant size.
And it's 'kin' ugly.
If (Land) Rover want to build a sports car, how about they look back at their P6 prototype two seater with the mid engined V8. I'd buy one of those even now.
When I want sport I want a sports car. When I want utility I want to be able to load stuff in and haul it somewhere. Like my Discovery. This squashed can serves no purpose other than to allow people that want a real Land Rover and can't justify buying one. It like an automotive man purse! They'd be far better off in a Skoda Yeti.
This squashed can serves no purpose other than to allow people that want a real Land Rover and can't justify buying one. It like an automotive man purse! They'd be far better off in a Skoda Yeti.
By BKWANAB on 2 May, 2012, 8:38pm
You just dont get it do you, the real purpose of this is to make as much money for JLR as possible, thus allowing them to turn a tidy profit for little or no investment, very similar to Porsche and its Cayenne. Not my cup of tea, but if it allows them to produce new sports cars like the F-Type why complain.
From 190BHP, ha ha what a laugh. BMW diesels will walk all over them.
What Evoque goes 50MPG?, in your dreams.
Down a big hill maybe.
BKWANAB - Why would anyone listen to you when all you can do write what you think Jeremy Clarkson would say? The guy who said that the Range Rover Sport was a pointless car before it went on to outsell the standard Ranger Rover.
If you can go in and sit in the back is ok.
Or you can use it as a mouse trap.
There are more uses of the word "could" in that article than the average communique from the Climate Change Panel.
Waste of disk space.
Things are looking good for Range Rover... and Land Rover for that matter...
Great creative thinking...
I did say 'around' 50mpg,...with the manual gear box. I achieve mid forties easily in mine and that include booting down the lanes on the odd occasion.
I can't comment on the mpg on the auto.
.....we asked a hundred people who would prefer this evoque to a bland BMW 5 series m sport. And our survey says 100 percent evoque!!!! Stuff the 0-60 of the Beamer , the cars got to look good as well.
WELL DONE FORD I MEAN LAND ROVER, SILLY PRICES THOUGH I SURPOSE YOUR PAYING FOR THE BADGE & STYLING PROBABILY A FORD KUGA UNDERNEATH !
I the diesel engine on order and have test drove a few times and the diesel gets just under 50mpg...that was one of the attractions as my Range Rover Sport gets me 24mpg and I have a lengthy motorway commute to work. I'll save a fortune in diesel
2012 BMW 3 L diesel engine as fitted in the boy racer styled X3 M sport HP 258 ......... ... .....if Land Rover are getting 210 BHP from a 2.2L diesel engine that is good going IDIOT! You cant know much about engines!
2013 BMW 3.0-litre straight-six as fitted to the M550d: 381 bhp (although the LCI model may enjoy over 400...) - now *that* is extremely good going, seeing as it takes the Volkswagen Group 4,134 cc, eight cylinders and Porsche involvement to reach the same power output.