Evoque five-door emerges pre-LA

IT WAS seen in an official image at last month’s Paris motor show, where the sleek new Range Rover Evoque three-door made its world debut, and now the five-door version of Land Rover’s groundbreaking new compact premium SUV has formally broken cover a week ahead of its global premiere in Los Angeles on November 17.

Confirmed to go on sale in Australia alongside the three-door next October, the five-door Evoque will also be available here in both front-wheel drive and full-time all-wheel drive configurations with both petrol and diesel engines, including the same Ford-sourced 180kW 2.0-litre EcoBoost (‘Si4’) engine that will power Australia’s Falcon from next year.

As we’ve reported, both Evoque body styles will come with the choice of 110kW and 140kW versions of the same 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, with idle-stop technology fitted to variants with a six-speed manual transmission, while the other gearbox on offer across the range will be a six-speed automatic.

The three engine, two transmission and two drive configuration choices will be available here, as in the Europe, across a range that comprises three model trim grades - Dynamic, Prestige and Pure, with the entry-level Dynamic featuring body-coloured lower panels instead of the other models’ classier black colour.

However, the more versatile, family-oriented five-door derivative will be the cheapest model in the line-up, with Land Rover revealing an indicative starting price of £30,000 (about $A48,000) in the UK, confirming the Freelander (currently priced from $45,590 in Australia) will continue to be Land Rover’s least expensive model.

The British 4WD brand says base versions of the 30kg-heavier five-door, which also remains faithful to the original 2008 LRX concept, will emit less than 135 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

That’s about 5g/km more than the low-output front-drive diesel three-door, which Land Rover has long promised will emit less than 130g/km, but the Evoque will still be the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever.

Identical to the three-door in almost all dimensions including length, width and footprint, the five-door Evoque comes with the same aluminium roof but rather than sloping downwards at the rear it is flatter and 30mm higher, propped up at the front by a 60mm-longer windscreen and at the rear by a new, slightly taller composite tail-gate.

Land Rover says the result is 30mm and 40mm of extra front and rear headroom respectively, while the five-door’s less pronounced tumblehome (bodysides curvature) also liberates 50mm of extra rear shoulder room.

“The five-door Range Rover Evoque has the same strong emotional appeal as the coupé, while offering the superior versatility of a family vehicle,” said Land Rover design director, Gerry McGovern.



“The key lines remain intact – the dramatic rising beltline, muscular shoulder running the length of the car, and the distinctive taper to the floating roofline – but with a slightly higher rear roof. The finished vehicle offers impressive levels of space and versatility whilst retaining the overall essence, visual robustness and jewel-like detailing of the coupé.”With its 60/40-split rear seatback folded, the volume-selling five-door Evoque is said to liberate a maximum of 1445 litres of cargo space, matching the versatility and luggage accommodation of a small station wagon.

Naturally, the rear bench seat three passengers, each with a three-point seatbelt, head restraints and Isofix child seat mounts, while a full-sized panoramic glass sunroof further increases headroom. The driving position in all Evoque models comprises a seat that’s 30mm lower than the Freelander’s and a gearshifter that’s 60mm higher.

All Evoques will also be highly specified, with Land Rover announcing for the first time that all versions will be available with MagneRide adjustable shock absorbers, controlled via an enhanced Terrain Response system.

The latter is designed to improve on-road handling without compromising off-road performance, allegedly giving the Evoque “class-leading all-surface capability”. Land Rover describes the Evoque’s ground clearance as “extremely generous” and claims the car has better breakover and departure angles than other compact SUVs.

Of course, there will also be a range of premium options for those wanting more than the standard interior, which Land Rover says “is lavishly appointed with premium quality materials and an elegance befitting of a Range Rover”, including soft premium leather and twin-needle stitching for the instrument panel, doors and seats.

Flow-down technology from larger Range Rover models includes a dual-view display for the eight-inch touch-screen (allowing the driver and passengers to view independent content) and surround camera system with five external cameras, while direct-injection turbocharged four-cylinder engines and electric power steering will break new ground for Land Rover.

Further options will include an automated parallel parking system, blind spot monitoring, dual-zone climate-control with Park Heater timing function, hard-drive navigation, an 825-Watt 17-speaker Meridian sound system, DAB/FM/AM/Sirius radio tuners with hard-drive virtual 10-CD multiplayer, digital and satellite TV and DVD playback, a rear-seat entertainment package with eight-inch video screens, digital wireless headphones and touch screen remote control, keyless entry, powered tailgate, adaptive headlights with automatic high-beam assist, and a heated windscreen, front seats and steering wheel.

The three unique specification levels will open with ‘Pure’, which is said to combine the stunning concept-car exterior with a stylish, clean interior comprising soft-touch materials and brushed aluminium trim.

Land Rover says ‘Prestige’ is the ultimate in Range Rover luxury, combining 19-inch wheels and metallic details with an interior that is almost entirely leather-wrapped.

Finally, ‘Dynamic’ brings 20-inch wheels and bolder bumpers, sills, grille and exhaust outlets, while contrasting roof, spoiler and seat colours will also be available.

“The addition of the five-door to the Range Rover Evoque line-up extends the appeal of our brand still further,” said Land Rover managing director Phil Popham.

“While retaining everything that’s great about the Range Rover Evoque coupé, this new five-door body style will offer customers even more choice, greater practicality, versatility and flexibility. The launch of the Evoque in 2011 will expand and revitalise the global appeal of the Range Rover marque.”Both the three-door Evoque ‘coupe’ and five-door Evoque wagon will be built at the Gaydon-headquartered company’s Halewood plant at Merseyside in the UK, before being shipped to more than 160 markets worldwide from early 2011.