We've finally got some more artsy pics of the new Range Rover Evoque, which is set to be in a lot of peoples' driveways come next summer. Oh, hey, there are specs, too. Just to get the pricing issue out of the way, Rover says it'll start at £30,000 when it arrives in the UK next summer (foreign pricing to come at a later date).
The "low carbon" front-wheel drive (or optional full-time four-wheel drive) Evoque is called a "cross-coupé", and is kind of like the new-urban spiritual successor to the old 3-door Range Rover. A four-door model is also on the way (see the spy shots here), but I'll stay with the shooting brake of SUVs, thank you very much.
From the pics, you can see the divine interior - in this case coated in leather with "twin needle" stitching - houses the expected Terrain Response system, a Jag-inspired transmission knob, and all the cell/MP3 connectivity you'll ever need.
The dash also gets an optional dual-view 8-inch screen (the kind where driver and passenger have the ability to see different projections on the monitor).
Audio from your iPod will be routed through a 17-speaker Meridian system and backed by 825 watts, while above the seating area is your gateway to the stars (or a glass panoramic roof, if you're not feeling as inspired as I am right now).
Power for the most elite of cute-utes comes from a series of gasoline and diesel turbo engines that incorporate start/stop tech, while the Evoque also stays a little greener thanks to electronic power-assisted steering (which is considered a low-CO2 system).
The four-cylinder turbodiesels are based on a 2.2-liter unit and provide either 150 or 190 horsepower.
Opting for the FWD 150-horse diesel earns you the most green points with an estimated fuel economy of 58 mpg Imperial (48.3mpg US or 4.9lt/100km) and under 130 grams of CO2 per kilometer of emissions (the 4X4 low-output diesel comes in at a still impressive 50 mpg (41.6mpg US or 5.6lt/100km) and under 145 g CO2 / km).
On the other hand, if you're looking to burn gasoline and have a closer power-to-torque ratio, go with the 2.0-liter Si4 engine. Using direct injection, turbocharging, and variable valve timing, the car puts down...well, Rover didn't say, but the 0-60mph (96km/h) claim is 7.1 seconds.
Suspension duties are handled by a MagneRide setup in order to make handling sporty yet comfortable (though that claim will only be proven once it's been tested). Land Rover program director Murray Dietsch says that they've "tuned the Range Rover Evoque's chassis and Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) to deliver precise and responsive steering at lower speeds, making the car nimble and fun to drive."
To keep things relatively simple, the Evoque will come in three flavors from the get-go: 1) "Pure" (aka Base), which provides the car, soft-touch materials, and aluminum trim; 2) "Prestige" (aka Luxury), which adds 19-inch wheels and a lot of leather; and 3) "Dynamic" (aka Sport-Lux), which adds 20-inch wheels, unique exterior styling (bumpers, grille, spoilers with contrasting colors, etc.) and sports seats. There will also be a hybrid in the future, so expect this little guy to get even greener.
Of adding a smaller Range to Rover's lineup, CEO Dr. Ralf Speth says, "These are exciting times for our business. Not only will the Range Rover Evoque increase our worldwide market share, it helps to define a new segment for premium compact SUVs that are more sporting and stylish."
We'll have more on Land Rover's promising Evoque from the Paris Show floor on September 30.
By Phil Alex
