Geneva show: Range Rover Evoque facelift uncovered

LAND Rover has lifted the lid on its facelifted Range Rover Evoque ahead of its Geneva motor show debut next week, revealing a subtly tweaked exterior as well as details of its new powertrains.

The mid-life update is the first significant change to the sleek compact SUV that arrived in Australia in late 2011, and it brings with it a new Euro 6-compliant diesel engine that the company says is the “most efficient Land Rover ever produced”.

New engines from Jaguar Land Rover's Ingenium family of powertrains include the TD4, which is available in two states of tune, 20-30kg lighter than the unit it replaces and features decoupled injectors for improved vibration and noise intrusion.

The 110kW unit is the most frugal, with an official combined fuel use figure of 4.4 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of 109g/km – representing a fuel saving of 0.6L/100km for the front-wheel drive manual – while the 132kW version uses 4.8L/100km and emits 133g/km of CO2.

A third 177kW Si4 petrol engine option will provide zero to 100km/h acceleration of 7.6-seconds and fuel economy of 7.8L/100km.

The front end of the Evoque features a pair of larger, taller air intakes on the newly designed bumper which houses new slimline LED fog-lights, while buyers will have a choice of two grilles – one with two horizontal bars and a mesh pattern and another with a hexagonal look and mesh for the more dynamic variants.

Fresh LED adaptive headlights are also included as an option, and the Evoque also gains a new LED daytime running light design.

At the rear there is a new tailgate spoiler with a refreshed LED rear brake light, the bonnet vents– previously available on the three-door coupe only – are now available on five-door HSE Dynamic and Autobiography variants, and there are three new alloy wheels designs to choose from.

The cabin features a restyled instrument binnacle, updated door panels, and new soft-touch materials. The seats in entry level models are six-way adjustable, while flagship variants can be adjusted 14 ways and gain new front massaging seats that Land Rover says are unique to the class.

A new eight-inch InControl Touch touchscreen infotainment system is standard on some variants and features access to applications, while on higher-grade variants the InControl Touch Plus has HDD-based navigation. A pair of eight-inch entertainment screens are optional for the rear seat.

Some variants feature a hands-free tailgate, while Land Rover's All-Terrain Progress Control system – already available in the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models – lets the driver concentrate on difficult terrain by maintaining a constant speed between 1.8 and 30km/h in forward or reverse gear.

Autonomous Emergency Braking is fitted as standard across the range, while a driver fatigue warning system and optional lane-keep assist that monitors road markings to ensure the vehicle maintains its lane, are also on offer.

Land Rover has tweaked the variant designations for the 2016 Evoque, with the Pure, SE, HSE, HSE Dynamic and Autobiography following the system of the Range Rover Sport.

Australian specification and pricing is yet to be confirmed, but the refreshed Evoque range will roll into Land Rover dealerships in the first quarter of next year.