MPG Range: N/A
Body Style: SUV
Range Rover has traditionally been the luxo SUV brand with the highest commitment to off-roadability. That makes the Evoque crossover-coupe all the more of a departure. Its design is definitely style first, utility second, and its dynamic emphasis leans very much toward on-road dynamics. That just shows how the world is changing. But the luxury angle is very much intact.
The Evoque will be a third model for Range Rover, fitting below the stately, eponymous RR and the Range Rover Sport. It goes on sale mid-2011 at prices running about $40,000-$50,000. A five-door with the same wedge silhouette will follow half a year after.
The Evoque is a dead ringer for the Land Rover LRX concept from the Detroit Show in 2008. The sheetmetal surfacing has been rounded a little, but other 'concepty' aspects-proportions, stance, 20-inch wheels, even most of the external jewelry -- have survived pretty much intact.
2012 Land Range Rover Evoque Interior
Overall mass is pegged to about 3750 pounds for a 4x4. In Europe, super-economy versions will be available with a 2.2-liter 150-hp turbodiesel, manual trans, idle-stop and (shock!) front-drive.
At 171.3 inches long, 63.1 inches high, the Evoque is 17 inches shorter than the Range Rover Sport V8, 7.1 inches lower, and a staggering 1700 pounds lighter.
Range Rover remains serious about off-roading, despite the positioning of the Evoque, and claims it will be class-leading -- though this presumably means the crossover class rather than SUV. The AWD system deploys an electronically controlled Haldex center diff to split the torque front-rear as appropriate. The vehicle has Terrain Response to recalibrate parameters such as traction control, throttle and gearchange maps, and steering weight. There is also a Dynamic road setting, which puts the optional Magnaride dampers into a sterner program and changes the color of the instruments and ambient cabin illumination.
