Geneva show: All eyes on new Range Rover Evoque
BY NEIL DOWLING | 16th Feb 2015
There is no sign of an Evoque convertible, which was shown as a concept at the 2012 Geneva show, with Land Rover’s Australian subsidiary confirming to GoAuto this week that a production version will not be shown at this year’s event despite spy shots overseas showing ongoing development of the model due for release in 2016.
The current teaser campaign will build to a February 23 announcement of the 2016 model year Evoque, which will be the first Land Rover to offer full-LED adaptive headlights and will also adopt Jaguar Land Rover’s new in-house ‘Ingenium’ engine range being built in the UK.
Replacing the existing Ford-designed powertrains on Evoque, the modular petrol and diesel Ingenium engines are capable of being made as three-, four-, six- and eight-cylinder units.
Due in the third quarter of this year, the MY16 Evoque is expected to be offered with the new 2.0-litre turbo-diesel and is also in line to receive a new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine.
New safety and convenience features – still to be detailed – will also be onboard.
“Our challenge has been to enhance Evoque without diluting its iconic design,” said Land Rover design director and chief creative officer Gerry McGovern. “The design refreshments give it an even greater presence on the road yet retain the emotional appeal that has made it so popular with more than 400,000 consumers around the world.”Back in 2012, Mr McGovern also described the Evoque convertible concept as “highly desirable’’ and said the show car was designed to test public reaction to possible production.
Providing it reaches production as expected, the soft-roofed version will slip into a niche market without any production rivals.
The Evoque has been a huge success for Land Rover, selling 125,000 units a year – one-third of Land Rover’s total sales. In Australia, it sold 2584 vehicles last year.