Top Gear give their ‘take’ on the new Range Rover Evoque
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Kayte Platts Tuesday 19 July 2011 |
The Evoque is as close an interpretation of the LRX concept possible, and is the lightest and most efficient Rangie ever, and it looks pretty good, 'innit?
While some of the Top Gear office regard it as a two-doored, two-wheel drive metropolitan abomination of all that we hold dear about this company's utilitarian past, even they can't deny that it's going to do very well.
Expect it to be the ride of choice for all Fulham/Cheshire-based wives from next summer - much as the Audi TT and Mini have dominated that market in the past.
As design director Gerry McGovern says, the Evoque is a "bold evolution of Range Rover design". Underneath that handsome face lurks some clever tech. You get the option of front-wheel drive for the first time in a Range Rover, together with adaptive dampers and something called a ‘Terrain Response' system on the four-wheel drive. We like the sound of that...
The base engine is a 148bhp, 2.2-litre diesel which returns 58mpg and creeps under 130g/km of CO2 (in the front-wheel-drive model), while a 2.0-litre, 238bhp petrol engine offers up a 0-60mph time of 7.1 seconds. You get loads of techie bits like park assist, blind spot monitoring, surround camera system with digital cameras, TV, DVD and keyless entry. We're still waiting to see if it's got something called ‘electric windows', so check back for updates.
Land Rover is offering the Evoque in three design themes: Pure (brushed aluminium trim, soft-touch materials), Prestige and Dynamic. Prestige gives you ‘sparkly metallic details', while Dynamic gets you 20-inch rims and Big Respec'. This little crossover SUV will cost from £30,000 when it goes on sale in summer 2011. And it's Made In Britain. It's split the Top Gear office fairly cleanly down the middle, so we want to know what you think. A hideous betrayal aimed at milquetoasts from the chattering classes, or the latest stroke of genius from Gaydon?
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Trevor, Shoreham 27 July 2011, 05:21PM | |
I have test driven the Range Rover Evoque and have to say that I think it is the smallest, greenest and possibly trendiest vehicle ever to carry the British manufacturer’s badge. If my wallet allowed my name would defiantly be added to the long waiting list! | |
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adrian dewey, Kings Hill Kent 5 August 2011, 04:37PM | |
Excellent design, I WANT ONE. | |
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FJ Bartling, Hilversum,Holland. 13 August 2011, 03:26PM | |
Goodness! | |
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stevie J, Northern Ireland 14 September 2011, 12:12AM | |
I have driven this car on 3 occasions and have fallen in love with it. I Kept my Volvo 850R for 15 years as there was nothing on the market that took my fancy until Now. Beautiful and sleek, Gearing is superb, handling very responsive and loads of useful gadgets. Deposit paid and picking up in January 12. Don't knock it until you have driven it. Knocks spots off the Sport. | |
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Mark 3 February 2012, 01:35AM | |
Top gear = Trash | |
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