Range Rover Evoque Convertible Debuts November In LA As New Video Shows Final Testing
The hotly anticipated Range Rover Evoque, the world’s first luxury compact SUV convertible, is set to be unveiled at the L.A. International Motor Show, which takes place 20-29 November. In the build up to this November debut, Land Rover has teased some more footage of the Evoque, uploading a video to their Youtube channel, reports Recombu.
The two-minute clip shows the Evoque being put through off-road tests at Land Rover’s Eastnor Castle rough terrain testing facility in Hereford, UK. Full technical details are still unknown, but Land Rover has confirmed the Evoque Convertible will be equipped with Terrain Response, technology that allows the drivetrain to adapt to different surfaces such as road, gravel, mud and snow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BElY8FbEjPA
The Evoque will also feature Hill Descent Control, a system to assist with handling when traversing steep inclines, and a wade sensor that measures how deep surrounding water is.
Engine-wise, the Evoque is expected to be built with the same Ingenium engines that are in the recently updated three- and five-door hardtop Evoque models.
The Evoque convertible will almost certainly be heavier than the standard Evoque, to compensate for issues with rigidity and handling that are a sequence of there being no solid roof.
The Evoque convertible has been in the pipeline for a number of years, with the model first being publicly floated as an idea in 2012, when Land Rover exhibited a concept version at the Geneva Motor Show. Based on the three-door Evoque Coupé, it had four seats, a power-retractable soft top roof, and 21-inch wheels.
“The Evoque lends itself beautifully to the idea of a convertible,” said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer.
‘This study is not a traditional convertible design execution – instead we have worked with the balance of the Evoque’s lines to retain its distinctive shape and create something that is unique and, we believe, highly desirable.”
Since the beginning of the year, Land Rover has been marketing the Evoque, staging a number of high profile publicity stunts. In March, the company released video footage and stills of the Evoque being driven up and down the walls of newly drilled underground train tunnels in London, scenes that looked more akin to an action movie.
The Land Rover Evoque Convertible being driven up and down the walls of underground train tunnels in London. Image via Land Rover.
A few days ago, full-scale computer-modelled aluminium wire models of the Evoque were unveiled in London, each one placed in iconic locations in the capital, reports Autocar.
“The Range Rover Evoque Convertible is perfectly suited to the urban surroundings of a city like London and it’s the perfect place to showcase the world’s first luxury compact SUV convertible. The locations chosen reflect the refined and luxurious lifestyle of an Evoque Convertible customer – two attributes this vehicle will deliver plentifully.”
– Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer
The installations were displayed outside prestigious London locations including the world famous Harrods department store on Brompton Road, and sites in Knightsbridge and Mayfair.
https://instagram.com/p/8THjZNEFDj/?taken-by=landrover
The wireframes will now begin appearing in cities across the world as they embark on a global tour. In the words of McGovern, the sculptures “illustrate the elegant evolution of the Range Rover Evoque’s transformation from coupe to convertible”.
#RangeRover #EvoqueConvertible wireframes were spotted in London, UK yesterday.https://t.co/YrrGf9t0cP
— Land Rover (@LandRover) October 2, 2015
Land Rover seem to be very confident of the Evoque Convertible’s capabilities, and hope to capitalize on the wants and desires of a niché market, with a vehicle that blurs the boundaries of automotive genres – an urban, fashionable, luxury, and convertible off roader.
“Land Rover prides itself on being a class leader when it comes to all-terrain capability and the Evoque Convertible is no different. Thanks to a combination of innovative engineering and the application of advanced technologies, Evoque Convertible will deliver a dynamic and assured SUV experience that has been tested around the world. We call it The Convertible for all Seasons.”
– Mike Cross, Land Rover Chief Engineer
[Images and video via Land Rover]
