| Manufacturer | Land Rover |
|---|---|
| Production | 2011- |
| Assembly | Halewood, England |
| Class | Compact crossover SUV |
| Body style | 3-door SUV 5-door SUV |
| Layout | F4 layout FF layout |
| Engine |
2.0 L I4 petrol 240 hp (180 kW) |
| Transmission |
6-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 2,660 mm (104.7 in)[1] |
| Length |
3-door: 4,355 mm (171.5 in)[1] |
| Width | 1,965 mm (77.4 in)[1] |
| Height |
3-door: 1,605 mm (63.2 in)[1] |
| Kerb weight | 1,670 kg (3,680 lb)[2] |
| Related | Land Rover Freelander |
| Designer | Gerry McGovern |
The Range Rover Evoque is a Compact crossover SUV from Land Rover which went into production in July 2011. The Evoque is designed to appeal to urban buyers and meet increased CO2 emissions and fuel economy requirements. A concept model known as the Land Rover LRX was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January 2008 with the aesthetics of the Evoque production model changing very little from the LRX concept.[3] The Evoque has been received positively by the automotive press for retaining the upscale features and off road capabilities of the Range Rover brand in a smaller more city friendly package.
Contents |
The Evoque was developed from the LRX concept vehicle with the goal of producing a smaller more environmentally conscious vechicle. The size of the LRX complemented a wide array of efficiency improving technologies in the form of Land Rover’s e_Terrain technologies. These included biofuel compatibility, lightweight construction materials and technologies such as the removable carbon composite roof panels, regenerative brakes, a stop-start system, and the ERAD (electric rear axle drive) parallel hybrid powertrain system.[4]
The ERAD system could propel the LRX to speeds of up to 20 mph (32 km/h) before the engine was started by an integrated starter generator as part of the stop-start system. ERAD was designed to reduce CO2 emissions by an average of 20 percent under the NEDC test cycle and was expected to offer another 10 percent reduction in extra-urban driving situations while also optimising the off-road ability of the vehicle. Land Rover aimed to achieve 120 g/km CO2 emissions and fuel economy of 60 mpg-imp (4.7 L/100 km; 50 mpg-US) on the European combined cycle with an efficient 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine.[5] The engine would become the only four-cylinder vehicle in the Range Rover lineup.
The latest incarnation of Land Rover’s acclaimed Terrain Response system was also included offering sport and eco modes in addition to the existing grass, gravel, snow, and sand modes. Typical Land Rover design traits aim at improving off-road performance included a prominent driving position, hill descent control, and useful approach and departure angles. A Land Rover first was an air intake system integrated into the roof which offered exceptional wading capabilities though this feature did not make it to the production model. Land Rover's Range Rover styling was visually apparent in the form of the clamshell bonnet, the ‘floating’ roof, dual-pocket headlamps, and raked roof line.
Interior design improvements were another main focus of the LRX concept though the interior of the production Evoque changed significantly from the concept LRX. Notable interior features in the LRX included ambient interior lighting that changed according to Terrain Response settings, and vehicle data which was presented to the driver through a ‘floating’ three-dimensional LCD display. An aluminium centre console with an iPhone docking station stretched the length of the cabin, separating the four seats and the tailgate. Seats with open frameworks were used to give the impression of an airy interior while also creating useful under-seat and under-floor stowage areas. Electric motors folded the rear seats forward providing enough room for two mountain bikes to be fitted upright, with front wheels removed and stored in dedicated slots in the floor.[5]
On 11 March 2009, the UK government announced a £27 million grant to Land Rover to produce an all-new model, subject to the conditions that the LRX would be manufactured at its Halewood Body & Assembly facility in Liverpool. Phil Popham, Managing Director of Land Rover, announced the production of the Evoque by stating:
| “ | Our engineering feasibility study has shown that we can very successfully deliver Range Rover levels of quality, drivability and breadth of performance in a more compact, more sustainable, package. Feedback from the most extensive customer research we have ever undertaken also fully supports our belief that a production version of the LRX Concept would further raise the desirability of our brand and absolutely meet all those expectations.[3] | ” |
Production of the Evoque started on 4 July 2011, at Halewood, with the first customer deliveries expected to be made in September.[6] The British Motor Industry Heritage trust will be given the first vehicle off the line to add to their collection, held at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon.[6] The production model Evoque retained nearly identical bodywork from the LRX prototype including the cabin length the panoramic sun roof. However no hybrid power train is initially being offered though a version of the terrain response system is included.
The Evoque departs from the classic body on frame design used by the majority of vehicles designed for off road use. Instead the Evoque features a more modern unibody construction technique for improved handling and ride quality, and to appeal to buyers who drive primarily on road. Despite a lack of traditional body on frame construction and dedicated transfer case, the Evoque is still capable of class leading off road performance with 215 millimetres (8.5 in) of ground clearance, 25 degree approach and 33 degree departure angles, and the ability to ford up to 500 millimetres (19.7 in) of water.[1]
The manufacturer's fuel economy estimates for the 2.2-litre diesel engine with manual transmission are 47.1 miles per imperial gallon (6.00 L/100 km; 39.2 mpg-US) urban and 56.5 miles per imperial gallon (5.00 L/100 km; 47.0 mpg-US) combined, with CO2 emissions of 133 g/km.[1] For the 2.0-litre petrol engine with automatic transmission the figures are 23.7 miles per imperial gallon (11.9 L/100 km; 19.7 mpg-US), 32.5 miles per imperial gallon (8.69 L/100 km; 27.1 mpg-US) and 199 g/km CO/2.[1] United States Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy estimates have been stated as being 19 miles per US gallon (12 L/100 km; 23 mpg-imp) in the city and 28 miles per US gallon (8.4 L/100 km; 34 mpg-imp) highway for the 2-litre petrol version.[7]
The car was launched as two distinct models: the five-door Evoque and the three-door Evoque Coupé. Each model is available in three trim levels - Pure, Prestige and Dynamic. Land Rover markets the Pure as the minimalist version rather than the "base model" while the Prestige adds luxury options and the Dynamic focuses more on performance. Land Rover estimates 80% of North American sales will be for the five-door model.[8]
The cabin is intended to be upscale and luxurious in line with the rest of the Range Rover brand. The Evoque comes standard with a cabin length sun roof and a touch screen entertainment system that can display two different images simultaneously to both the driver and front passenger. There are 12 interior colour choices available in a variety of wood and metal trims as well as three optional contrasting roof treatments.[9] Land Rover employed singer and fashion designer Victoria Beckham as a design consultant for the interior and will release a "Victoria Beckham" special edition of the Evoque.[10]
Engineers used advanced weight saving techniques to bring the total kerb weight down to under 1,670 kg (3,700 lb) making it the lightest Land Rover ever built. The use of aluminium for the bonnet and the roof, and composite plastics for the one-piece tailgate helped produce a vehicle weighing 100 kg (220 lb) less than the Freelander.[11] The Evoque can be equipped with five exterior cameras to give the driver added visibility for off road maneuvers and compensate for the sloping roofline design with limited rear visibility.
The Evoque comes in twelve different body colours with three optional contrasting roof colors and five optional wheel choices though Land Rover offers a "designers choice" of predetermined combinations on most models. The Dynamic model incorporates more aggressive bodywork including a different front fascia and lowered suspension.[9]
Three engine options are available for the Evoque: two 2.2-litre turbodiesels producing either 148 bhp (110 kW; 150 PS) or 187 bhp (139 kW; 190 PS) currently available only in European markets, and a 2-litre 237 bhp (177 kW; 240 PS) turbocharged petrol engine.[11] The two litre turbo charged engine is sourced from the Ford Ecoboost also being used in the Ford Edge, Ford Explorer, and Volvo S60. Small displacement high output engine choices were made to provide the Evoque adequate power while meeting increasing fuel economy requirements.
Despite half the cylinders and less than half the displacement of the Range Rover Sport, the 2.0-litre turbo Evoque with a 6-speed automatic transmission achieves similar performance figures including a 6.7 second 0 to 60 miles per hour (0 to 97 km/h) time and an higher .82 g average lateral acceleration.[12]
The Evoque is primarily configured with a generation IV Haldex permanent Four-wheel drive system though a two-wheel drive version is available in European markets. The Evoque also comes standard with Land Rover's latest version of Terrain Response, which maximises traction in a variety of conditions by altering throttle response, power distribution, and suspension settings. The Terrain Response system also includes electronic stability control, roll stability control, traction control, and an optional hill descent control which automatically applies braking to control speed when moving off an incline.[1]
A third generation MagneRide suspension system is also available which works by magnetising iron particles inside the suspension fluid to quickly adapt shock absorber firmness to road changes.[13]
Since its launch the Evoque has received acclaim from the automotive press including several "best of" awards. The popular British car show Top Gear, view the Evoque as the softening of the Land Rover image, though Top Gear were impressed with the Evoque's off road capabilities.[14] Motor Trend contends that the Evoque is the necessary evolution of the Land Rover brand to stay competitive in a more environmentally conscious marketplace.[12]
The Evoque was awarded the titles of 2011 Auto Express Car of the Year,[15] Best production car by Car Design News in 2010,[16] and the 2012 SUV of the Year by Motor Trend in 2011.[17]
| Type | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Off-road vehicle | Series I | Series II | Series III | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ninety & One Ten | Defender | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact SUV | Range Rover Evoque | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size SUV | Range Rover Classic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size SUV | Range Rover | Range Rover | Range Rover | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size SUV | Discovery Series I | Discovery Series II | Discovery 3 | Discovery 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact SUV | Freelander | Freelander 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size SUV | Range Rover Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||