Range Rover Evoque

The Range Rover Evoque is a compact crossover SUV from Land Rover which went into production in July 2011. The Evoque is designed to appeal to urban buyers and meet increased CO₂ emissions and fuel

economy requirements. A concept model known as the Land Rover LRX was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January 2008 with the aesthetics of the Evoque production model changing very little from the LRX concept.[3] The Evoque has been received positively by the automotive press for retaining the features and off road capabilities of a traditional Range Rover in a smaller more city friendly package.[4]

The Evoque was developed from the LRX concept vehicle with the goal of producing a smaller more environmentally conscious vehicle. The size of the LRX complemented a wide array of efficiency improving technologies in the form of Land Rover’s e_Terrain technologies. These included biofuel compatibility, lightweight construction materials and technologies such as the removable carbon composite roof panels, regenerative brakes, a stop-start system, and the ERAD (electric rear axle drive) parallel hybrid powertrain system.[5]

The ERAD system could propel the LRX to speeds of up to 20 mph (32 km/h) before the engine was started by an integrated starter generator as part of the stop-start system. ERAD was designed to reduce CO2 emissions by an average of 20 percent under the NEDC test cycle and was expected to offer another 10 percent reduction in extra-urban driving situations while also optimising the off-road ability of the vehicle. Land Rover aimed to achieve 120 g/km CO2 emissions and fuel economy of 60 mpg-imp (4.7 L/100 km; 50 mpg-US) on the European combined cycle with an efficient 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine.[6] The engine would become the only four-cylinder vehicle in the Range Rover lineup.

The latest incarnation of Land Rover’s acclaimed Terrain Response system was also included offering sport and eco modes in addition to the existing grass, gravel, snow, and sand modes. Typical Land Rover design traits aim at improving off-road performance included a prominent driving position, hill descent control, and useful approach and departure angles. A Land Rover first was an air intake system integrated into the roof which offered exceptional wading capabilities though this feature did not make it to the production model. Land Rover's Range Rover styling was visually apparent in the form of the clamshell bonnet, the ‘floating’ roof, dual-pocket headlamps, and raked roof line.

Interior design improvements were another main focus of the LRX concept though the interior of the production Evoque changed significantly from the concept LRX. Notable interior features in the LRX included ambient interior lighting that changed according to Terrain Response settings, and vehicle data which was presented to the driver through a ‘floating’ three-dimensional LCD display. An aluminium centre console with an iPhone docking station stretched the length of the cabin, separating the four seats and the tailgate. Seats with open frameworks were used to give the impression of an airy interior while also creating useful under-seat and under-floor stowage areas. Electric motors folded the rear seats forward providing enough room for two mountain bikes to be fitted upright, with front wheels removed and stored in dedicated slots in the floor.[6] 

Production model

On 11 March 2009, the UK government announced a £27 million grant to Land Rover to produce an all-new model, subject to the conditions that the LRX would be manufactured at its Halewood Body & Assembly facility in Liverpool. Phil Popham, Managing Director of Land Rover, announced the production 

                                                        of the Evoque by stating:

“

Our engineering feasibility study has shown that we can very successfully deliver Range Rover levels of quality, drivability and breadth of performance in a more compact, more sustainable, package. Feedback from the most extensive customer research we have ever undertaken also fully supports our belief that a production version of the LRX Concept would further raise the desirability of our brand and absolutely meet all those expectations.[3]

”

Production of the Evoque started on 4 July 2011, at Halewood, with the first customer deliveries expected to be made in September.^[7] The British Motor Industry Heritage trust will be given the first vehicle off the line to add to their collection, held at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon.^[7] The production model Evoque retained nearly identical bodywork from the LRX prototype including the cabin length the panoramic sun roof. However no hybrid power train is initially being offered though a version of the terrain response system is included.

Specifications

he Evoque departs from the classic body on frame design used by the majority of vehicles designed for off road use. Instead the Evoque features a more modern unibody construction technique for improved handling and ride quality, and to appeal to buyers who drive primarily on road. Despite a lack of traditional body on frame construction and dedicated transfer case, the Evoque is still capable of class leading off road performance with 215 millimetres (8.5 in) of ground clearance, 25 degree approach and 33 degree departure angles, and the ability to ford up to 500 millimetres (19.7 in) of water.^[1]

The manufacturer's fuel economy estimates for the 2.2-litre diesel engine with manual transmission are 47.1 miles per imperial gallon (6.00 L/100 km; 39.2 mpg_-US) urban and 56.5 miles per imperial gallon (5.00 L/100 km; 47.0 mpg_-US) combined, with CO₂ emissions of 133 g/km.^[1] For the 2.0-litre petrol engine with automatic transmission the figures are 23.7 miles per imperial gallon (11.9 L/100 km; 19.7 mpg_-US), 32.5 miles per imperial gallon (8.69 L/100 km; 27.1 mpg_-US) and 199 g/km CO_/2.^[1] United States Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy estimates have been stated as being 19 miles per US gallon (12 L/100 km; 23 mpg_-imp) in the city and 28 miles per US gallon (8.4 L/100 km; 34 mpg_-imp) highway for the 2-litre petrol version.^[8]

Engines

Three engine options are available for the Evoque: two 2.2-litre turbodiesels producing either 148 bhp (110 kW; 150 PS) or 187 bhp (139 kW; 190 PS) currently available only in European markets, and a 2-litre 237 bhp (177 kW; 240 PS) turbocharged petrol engine.[13] The two litre turbo charged engine is sourced from the Ford Ecoboost also being used in the Ford Edge, Ford Explorer, and Volvo S60. Small displacement high output engine choices were made to provide the Evoque adequate power while meeting increasing fuel economy requirements.

Despite half the cylinders and less than half the displacement of the Range Rover Sport, the 2.0-litre turbo Evoque with a 6-speed automatic transmission achieves similar performance figures including a 6.7 second 0 to 60 miles per hour (0 to 97 km/h) time and an higher .82 g average lateral acceleration.^[14]