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2011 Range Rover Evoque ’T3’ Dakar Rally Racer
 
The world famous Dakar Rally poses the kind of challenges that makes it difficult for just about any professional race driver. As if traveling over 9,000 km in a span of two weeks is tough enough, the fact that you’re going to need to do it in some of the world’s toughest conditions makes it as unforgiving as any race there is in the world. One team that appears to be up to the challenge of the Dakar Rally is the British Excite Rally Raid Team, which will take part in the world’s ultimate endurance race with three customized Range Rover Evoques commissioned by RaBe Race Cars. On the surface, the vehicle does look like the Evoque, but pretty much everything about the luxury SUV has been stripped down to accommodate for its run in Dakar, including a different kind of engine that was added to make it rally-spec. Instead of the typical 240-horsepower, 2.0-liter Si4 turbocharged engine that you can find under the Evoque, these rally-tuned versions carry a BMW-sourced 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six diesel engine that produces 275 horsepower and 480 lb/ft of torque mated. These engines are mated to a ZF six-speed transmission and equipped with special BF Goodrich desert tires. The RaBe-commissioned Evoque rally racers will be driven by three British drivers from the British Excite Rally Raid Team, consisting of Martin Rowe, Andrew Coley, and John Hardy. Land Rover Evoque cabrio in the works
Have you ever wanted a luxury SUV that would let you soak up the sun? Well, you may just get one that is fully capable. We’re not talking fancy glass sunroofs either; we’re talking about an Evoque convertible. LandRover is reportedly considering a drop top model of their new jewel and when AutoExpress talked to them about this rumor, they did not deny it. "A convertible Evoque wouldn’t be the maddest brand extension. It isn’t a totally crazy idea," a spokeperson admitted. “All I can say is watch this space. We’ve got lots of ideas for the Evoque." There’s no word about what will power this Land Rover convertible, but it will most likely be the 2.0 liter turbocharged engine that pumps out 237 horsepower and 250 ft/lbs of torque. As for pricing, expect a base cost north of the premium Evoque Coupe Dynamic ($52,895). Competition for this cabrio will emerge from Nissan, who premiered a convertible version of their Murano SUV called the Cross Cabriolet. We are supremely excited to see how this new market segment develops because before these vehicles, the only full size SUV that had a drop top was the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. This vehicle was made to pound the dirt trails as opposed to the streets of Dana Point and is about as elegant as a pair of cargo pants. The Land Rover would offer people the convertible experience combined with both luxury amenities and the practicality of a Land Rover. Who can say no to a car that offers you all that? Tata considering joint engine development with Jaguar Land Rover
It’s been about three years since Tata bought Jaguar and Land Roverfrom one of America’s big top three - Ford - and now the company is thinking of taking the last few necessary steps to completely cut ties with the former owner. A new Tata annual report has been released stating that the company is considering a joint engine-development program with its Jaguar Land Rover unit. If pushed through, the new engine could cement the two brands’ independence from Ford. "To optimize the synergistic strengths between JLR and Tata Motors in India, an examination is also under way on a joint engine development program which would have manufacturing facilities both in the U.K. and India," Ratan Tata said in a recent interview. These new engines will be a big step for the Indian company, who are beginning to pick up speed with models like the Range Rover Evoque and the new Jaguar XK and XF. Our concern will be for future models which will need adequate engines to obtain proper performance numbers matching that of the Ford-built engines. Whether or not Tata has the ability to pull something like this off is still up in the air. Top Gear Season 17: Episode 3
 The third episode of Top Gear was aired over the weekend and to our surprise, the show can actually put out a meaningful 60 minutes without all the usual wisecracks. Granted, there were still jokes, but humor was somehow left in the sidelines in lieu of some pretty fascinating reviews on the McLaren MP4-12C and the Range Rover Evoque. On top of that, reigning Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel also stopped by for a quick chat with Jeremy Clarkson while also taking his talents behind the wheel of a Kia Cee’d as part of the Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car segment. The two best segments though include the Stig’s scintillating lap of the MP4-12C, posting a lap time that you wouldn’t believe until you see it and a segment on second-hand cars that left us with an idea on the merits of owning a brand-new city car as opposed to a second-hand version of something that’s more appropriate to our tastes. Check out full details of Top Gear Season 17 Episode 3 after the jump. Full story 2014 Range Rover Evoque Cabrio
Now that Land Rover has unveiled a two-door Range Rover Evoque, it was just a matter of time until the company decided to offer a convertible version of the car. The decision has been made taking under consideration the huge success the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is already having on the market. However, the Evoque Convertible will target clientele looking for a more luxury oriented model. The Evoque Convertible will feature a folding textile roof and will only be offered in a two-door version configuration. Expect to see the same engines as in the fixed roof version under the hood, which means a new 2.0-liter Si4 turbocharged engine that combines direct fuel injection and twin variable valve timing for a total output of 240 HP. Chances are the new Evoque Cabrio won’t be finding its way to the market until late 2013, or even early 2014, so don’t expect it to get here any sooner. Prices will start from about $50K. UPDATE 07/28/2011: LandRover is reportedly considering a drop top model of their new jewel and when AutoExpress talked to them about this rumor, they did not deny it. "A convertible Evoque wouldn’t be the maddest brand extension. It isn’t a totally crazy idea," a spokeperson admitted. “All I can say is watch this space. We’ve got lots of ideas for the Evoque." 2011 Range Rover Evoque
The release of the Range Rover Evoque makes it clear that land Rover is confident enough in the brand to shift their focus from its core values. The explosion of the most recent Range Rover models, including the sport; into mainstream luxury automotive portfolio’s has shown Land Rover that they can compete with the best on every level. No single vehicle matches the current Range Rover in terms of style, capability, and refinement. The major downside to must urban dwellers owning a Range Rover is that they will never fully experience its capabilities as an off-road machine. This is where Land Rover will attempt to fill a need with the Evoque. Once upon a time someone would mention Land Rover and an image would flash in my mind of a yellow Defender 110 trudging through some African jungle on a Camel Trophy race. Those days may be gone, but Land Rover hopes to enter the forefront of the consumers mind when thinking about mid-size SUV’s full of luxury appointments. The segment is crowded and includes big players from BMW, Mercedes, and Audi. It seems that Land Rover has learned a lot from its Ford and BMW days and is poised to release its 3 different versions of the Evoque. It will be the smallest, lightest, and most fuel efficient Range Rover ever made. The term, “Range Rover” must be taken with a grain of salt, because yes Land Rover is tagging this new model as a Range Rover Evoque instead of simply a new line. Nonetheless, it seems that prices will fall in the $45,000 range depending on which model you choose. Head to Land Rover’s website to use the Evoque configurator and build your own. Hit the jump for more details on the Range Rover Evoque UPDATE 04/04/2011: Land Rover UK has announced that the new Evoque model will go on sale with prices ranging from £27,955 ($44,800) for an eD4 Pure 5-door 6 Speed manual 2WD model to £44,320 ($71,000) for the Si4 Dynamic with LUX Pack 6 Speed Automatic 4WD version. The company has also put up an online cofigurator so customers can configure the Evoque of their dreams. UPDATE 07/01/2011: Land Rover has announced the US prices for the 2012 Evoque SUV scheduled to go on sale this fall. The Evoque will be offered at a starting price of $43,995 for the five-door, and $44,995 for the coupe. It will deliver a fuel economy of 28 mph on the highway and 19 mpg city. Press release after the jump. Full story 2014 Land Rover Grand Evoque
Since Land Rover received such positive feedback on their new three and five-door Range Rover Evoque models, the company may be looking into adding a fourth (don’t forget about the Range Rover Sport) model to their lineup. That will be a supersized Evoque with a side order of sportiness, please. That’s right, one of the vehicles currently in discussion is called the "Grand Evoque" which will be placed between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport. This new model will be built on Land Rover’s new LR-MS platform - the same platform that will be used for the future Jaguar SUV model - and will feature an aggressively sporty appearance and considerable interior space, especially in the rear. The Grand Evoque is expected to carry the same front-wheel drive system as found in the original Evoque, with a choice of 2.2-liter diesel and 2.0-liter petrol engines. Expect to see the Land Rover Grand Evoque in the next two or three years, specifically for the USA and Chinese markets where the market for bigger SUVs continues to grow. Prices should start at around £35, 000, or about $56,000 at the current rates. Range Rover Evoque Bicycle by Karbona
While the whole concept is something that we’ve come to see in the past, we still raised a curious eyebrow on what appears to be a growing trend among automakers these days. Not content with producing four-wheeled vehicles, some of the most esteemed automakers in the world have gone the route of building two-wheeled modes of transportation, i.e. bicycles. The latest to dive in to the bicycle fixation is Land Rover, which is introducing the road bicycle extension for the Range Rover Evoque. Built in cooperation with Karbona and designed by the Land Rover design team headed by director, Gerry MCGovern, the Evoque bicycle uses Formula One-derived technology, featuring a carbon fiber frame with an integrated seat tube, alloy handlebars, black chrome trim, a leather saddle, and a 20-gear Shimano Ultegra system. The Evoque bicycle is expected to be a light, nimble, and clean-looking bicycle that doesn’t compromise its performance capabilities. Having said that, those interested in the bicycle might as well go ahead and place an order for the whole package, SUV included. Having one without the other just doesn’t seem right, at least as far as we’re concerned. 2011 Range Rover Evoque AR8 City-Roader by Arden
Well that didn’t take too long, did it? The Range Rover Evoque hasn’t been out all that long and it has already received its first tuning package from German tuner, Arden. Guess after the lights fade and the sparkles burn out, even the Ranger Rover Evoque can use a little updating. And we definitely mean a little, as Arden’s package only provides minor updates that were done to make the SUV sportier and stronger, and give it a more urban appearance. The AR8 City-Roader package takes the 2.0-liter turbo gasoline engine found in the Evoque and adds a new handmade stainless steel exhaust system and high performance catalyst. These additions make for a 30 HP increase, from 240 HP to 270 HP. Not much, but enough to make a small difference in the overall output. The aerodynamic package isn’t all that involved either. A new front and rear apron have been added, as well as new side skirts that can come illuminated as an option. The obligatory new wheels have also been taken car of with a set of ARDEN Dakar II rims. Arden claims that these rims are not only beautiful and very safe, but also allow a very individual and personal grading. Finishing off the package is a stainless steel plaque with personal lettering that can be placed in a specially designated hollow. TopSpeed’s Best of 2010: SUV of the Year
Despite the fact that gas prices are still on the rise, the SUV market continues to grow, and 2010 brought in plenty of new models to further this growth process. Starting with the new generation Porsche Cayenne, the new BMW X3, and the long waited Land Rover Evoque, the laundry list of SUVs gave us just about every model we could possibly ask for, and some we wish they would have taken back. For the avid readers of TopSpeed, it’s no surprise that the Cayenne is on our list of top SUVs for the year. This vehicle was just as admired by us as it was with the dozens of tuners that tried their hand at remodeling it. The Evoque was also popular, but more so in the headlines with news stories of its release dominating the waves for a significant amount of time. The BMW X3 is no stranger to awards with a few already tacked on to its bumper from previous years. The newest model will be no different as its style and luxury has carried on through 2010. We had our top three picks, but it was time to choose the winner. We based our choice on exterior design, performance, and fuel economy, which is rather important in vehicles of this class. Would tradition reign supreme or will a brand new model spank the competition? Hit the jump to find out which SUV was our top pick for 2010. Full story | featured reviews: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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