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Introducing the Evoque

See exclusive pictures and read official details of Range Rover’s stunning Evoque.

Introducing the Evoque

By Paul Bond

17th September 2010

Finally – our first good look at the smallest, lightest and greenest Range Rover ever made! With order books opening in three months and prices from £30,000, Auto Express has had exclusive access to the Evoque, and spoken to design boss Gerry McGovern about the most striking car the company has ever produced.

 

 

The Evoque retains the bulging arches, sweeping headlights and sleek profile of the LRX concept shown at the Detroit Motor Show in 2008. The bluff front end and wide stance give the car the same presence as its bigger relatives, but it’s 150mm shorter and 100mm lower than the Freelander on which it’s based.

But despite being shorter than its Land Rover sibling, the newcomer is no entry-level model. The interior is packed with technology, including the ‘dual-view’ screen on the dash, which allows the passenger to watch a DVD while the driver uses sat-nav on the same screen. A 17-speaker Meridian audio system is also an option.

What’s more, the small exterior hides a surprisingly spacious interior, with plenty of room for two adults in the plush leather rear seats. Thanks to clever design, the coupé-like roof offers more headroom than you might expect in the beautifully finished cabin.

As well as being a style statement, the Evoque shows how Range Rover has cleaned up its act. It will be the first Range Rover to be offered with two-wheel drive, further broadening its appeal. The option of front-wheel drive also means that – equipped with the new 2.2-litre eD4 diesel engine and stop-start – the Evoque will return close to 60mpg and CO2 figures below 130g/km.

Two other four-cylinder engines will complete the line-up – a more powerful 187bhp diesel, and a new 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit with 240bhp. But both will only be available with four-wheel drive.

Thanks to the use of materials such as aluminium and magnesium, the Evoque weighs over 100kg less, which should translate to agility previously unseen on the marque’s high-riding 4x4s. 

There will be three different trims; Pure, Prestige and Dynamic. Each will look slightly different, with the sportier models getting body-coloured sills and skirts, and bespoke exhausts for a more muscular look.

The expected £30,000 entry price is for a front-wheel-drive Pure, while a fully loaded Dynamic rises to more than £40,000. Order books open in January, with deliveries starting at the end of May, while the five-door version will be unveiled in November.

For more on the Evoque, and the full interview with design boss Gerry McGovern, make sure you pick up a copy of the latest issue of Auto Express, on sale now at all good newsagents.

For an alternative review of the latest Land Rover Range Rover visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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13 Comments

Another useless space-hogger.

Boring boring boring. Just another jacked up alterntative to a saloon car for people who think they own the road.

By Dave_French on 22 September, 2010, 2:59pm

OK.Landrover have some superb designers.
So where do they stand in the JD Power survey?

By toycollector on 22 September, 2010, 8:31pm

expecting more

Bit disapointed with inside, thought they would have been a bit more adventurous. Might still consider one for her indoors to park alongside my 2011 4.4 Diesal Autobiography. £30k + starting, pushing it Land Rover, begining suspect they are starting to take the urine.

By bobsnicholson on 23 September, 2010, 6:31am

Looking

The rear mirror look scompletely compromised!

By dieseltaylor on 23 September, 2010, 7:59am

You couldn't transport a couple of sheep in it, hose it out and go to the Hunt Ball in the evening! the Range Rover lost the plot many years ago: a 2wd Land Rover product indeed!

By hotbulb on 23 September, 2010, 9:52am

Boy racers' wet dream

Looks to have been designed by a childish, boy-racer.

No doubt bought and driven by rich, childish, boy-racers.

It's such a cliche. Big wheels, wide arches, wedge shaped body, small windows (to get a low roofline), spoiler, faux sump-guard, simulated air outlet vents behind the wheelarches.

By the way, any else notice the car in the photos has no pedals?

By quintilian on 23 September, 2010, 11:21am

Gross!

Hideous! Looks like it's been sat on by an elephant. Even worse than the X6. What is it with these flattened out SUV's, with their horizontal arrow slits for windows? The archetypal chavmobile?

By Roger1709 on 23 September, 2010, 11:35am

An idiot car for the fashion-conscious

Look, It's a joke - mobile, for idiots who put fashion above everything else. however, fashion changes so rapidly that within a year or two this is going to look as dated and stupid as platform boots or some of David Beckham's hairstyles. The above fawning review by Paul Bond (would I guess he's 25 or younger and uses Abercrombie & Fitch 'Fierce' aftershave) just reminds me that these Auto Express reviews need to be put in the same category as Sun newspaper 'news'.....
But, ok, its free on the net and reading them and their regurgitating of the press releases sometimes gives me a laugh. Sad to see a brand I respected for many years turning to this level of nonsense and I believe the company is now on a downward spiral of desperation and the major motor companies of the world will be watching and smelling blood.......


By BruceThe on 23 September, 2010, 12:22pm

CR*P!

From the makers of the Range Rover the car that inspires one to buy an SUV in the first place produce the biggest pile of crap!

Why not just concentrate on making the real Ranger Rover and Sport versions much more economical?

By terryxp on 23 September, 2010, 2:03pm

Euro NCAP

Is this the car before or after Euro NCAP have had a play with it?

By IronChicken on 23 September, 2010, 2:21pm

Another brick?

It looks like Rover is saving on glass, it’s very arty farty and must be very claustrophobic sat in the back seats.
This squat tub of a motor should be called the Squint, But methinks Rover should concentrate on making their other products reliable first.

By Bobbybev on 23 September, 2010, 10:40pm

Quintilian - should have gone to Specsavers, I can see pedals!

I'm not a lover of these niche market vehicles, but , and it is a big but, if I was going to to be forced to buy one I would choose this, only as the offerings from BMW are not only ridiculous, they are ugly too. So while this serves no real purpose it is mildly attractive. The rear window maybe small but note it does have a reversing camera so no need for a large rear window. I agree it will be driven by chavs and footballers making me even less interested!

By Focus_your_mind on 24 September, 2010, 10:35am

I love it....and yes i'm going to get one.
Love the fact that the CO2 emissions are low even on the four wheel drive, hard to make a realistic comment until seen in the flesh but i'm sure i'll love it...and own the road in one.

By Romajanes on 25 September, 2010, 1:43pm

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