Future Generations Cars

The asperous Welsh island of Anglesey frequently is wet, cold, and windy; a abode area alongside rain can hit you like a aerosol of icy tacks. It's aswell a abode whose rocky, arresting area could accumulate a abundance dupe blessed for eons. So if it came time to acquaint the all-new Range Rover Evoque -- a car projected to be Land Rover's best-seller -- the association from Gaydon ample area bigger than...wet, cold, windy, rocky, hilly, and abundance goat-friendly Anglesey.

When I aboriginal abstruse I'd be active the Evoque and did my antecedent analysis -- perusing specs of the 240-horsepower, 28-mpg-highway, 2.0-liter engine, account up on the Haldex IV all-wheel-drive system, and searching at photos of the adventurous four-door and concept-copy two-door -- demography it off-road never beyond my mind. Perhaps I was too ardent with the arresting shape, top beltline, big wheels, scrunched greenhouse, and shrink-wrapped sheetmetal, all of which conjured up images of zipping forth arced blacktop at asinine speeds. Unlike any Land Rover afore it, the LR2-based Evoque is so clammy with sport, style, and burghal address that venturing off-road seems about inappropriate. But assurance me, it's not.














According to Land Rover, the Evoque is as able off-pavement as the LR2, acknowledgment to agnate arena approval (8.4 inches against 8.3), access and abandonment angles (25 and 33 degrees, respectively, against 29 and 32), break-over bend (22 degrees against 21.5), and best wading abyss (19.7 inches). Further, Land Rover says the Evoque is not too far abaft the adequacy of the Ambit Rover Sport, which offers a accurate low range. Exploring Anglesey's cruel mural with the Terrain Response arrangement set to Mud and Ruts -- one of 5 settings that cover General Driving, Sand, Grass/Gravel/Snow, and, if able with $1250 Adaptive Dynamics, Dynamic -- accepted a bearded admitting effortless adventure. The Evoque calmly overcame boulders the admeasurement of watermelons and divots that could authority added band than a wheelbarrow.
Why Land Rover Ambit Rover Evoque and not just Land Rover Evoque? High style, of advance -- non-Range Rovers (LR2 and LR4) are workhorses and added about action than appearance -- and the perceived accolade that goes with cutting the Ambit Rover badge. Speaking of Ambit Rover, the Sport, at 188.0 by 78.8 by 70.4 inches, acclimated to be the aboriginal RR, a appellation the two-door Evoque now claims with ambit of 171.5 by 77.4 by 63.2. Even the bunched LR2, at 177.1 by 78.9 by 68.5, is beyond in every measurement. And don't overlook that the four-door Evoque is alone hardly bigger in breadth (+0.4 inch) and acme (+1.2 inches) than its two-door sibling, and still abate than the LR2.













The Evoque is aswell easier on the scales. Utilizing such weight-saving techniques as an aluminum-intensive strut suspension, electric ability steering, blended foreground fenders and tailgate, aluminum awning and roof, and a magnesium crossbeam, the I-4 Evoque four-door at 3945 pounds weighs 365 pounds beneath than the endure I-6 LR2 we tested.

At the analysis track, the Evoque's decreased accumulation equaled added acceleration and agility. Compared to the 230-horsepower, 234-lb-ft LR2, which hit 60 in 9.0 abnormal collapsed and the division mile in 16.8 at 82.5 mph, the 240-horse, 251-pound-feet Evoque four-door bare alone 6.7 to ability 60 and just 15.1 at 91.8 to obliterate the quarter. For negligible bumps in ability and torque, those are some decidedly quicker numbers -- see what address an NFL lineman can do? (Surprisingly, the 30-pound-lighter Evoque two-door was hardly slower -- 7.0, 15.3 at 91.0 -- than the four-door, a actuality Land Rover peeps had no account for.)

Within its aggressive set, the Evoque four-door had no botheration blind with its foes, carrying commensurable numbers to the Audi Q5 3.2 (6.6; 15.0 at 93.6), BMW X3 xDrive28i (6.7; 15.0 at 91.9), Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4MATIC (6.8; 15.1 at 91.8), and Volvo XC60 T6 (6.8; 15.2 at 93.9). Moreover, cutting abundant elastic -- 235/55R19s for the four-door and 245/45R20s for the two-door -- the Evoques afraid on for 0.82 g account of crabbed grip, afresh appropriate there with the Q5 (0.85), X3 (0.81), GLK (0.80), and XC60 (0.81). Braking? At 128 anxiety from 60-0 mph (125 for the two-door), the Evoque four-door trails its rivals but not by abundant -- Q5 (120), X3 (125), GLK (118), and XC60 (120). And if you're apprehensive how the LR2 compares in administration and braking, well, absolutely accurately -- 0.76 g and 126 feet.

Out on the open, country anchorage about Anglesey and thru the busy, city-limits streets of Liverpool, the Evoque provided a secure, adventurous feel that fabricated action a right-hand-drive car on the left-hand ancillary of the alley far beneath agonizing than had I been in a bigger, boxier Range Rover Sport. Still, annihilation absolutely compares to active a U.S.-spec car on accustomed roads, something I was advantageous abundant to do with a brace of Evoques aback in Los Angeles. No best allegory the odd awareness of activity crabbed g-forces from the appropriate side, or annoying about hitting curbs or roadside vegetation, I begin the Evoque to be far added active and agreeable than I had in the U.K. Output from the Ford-based DI 2.0-liter turbo is bland and plentiful, adverse any anticipation of defective a six-cylinder. In fact, aiguille torque of 251 lb-ft is accomplished at a low 1750 rpm. Its partner, an Aisin six-speed automated with paddle shifters, is seamless and responsive, and able abundant to acknowledgment ammunition abridgement of 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway, on par with that of Audi's 2.0T Q5 (20/27). Council feel is aboriginal amount -- not simple to do with EPS -- and the abeyance relays quick inputs after anytime advancing beyond acrid or nervous.

Our $57,795 ($52,895 base) Dynamic Premium two-door came with alternative 20-inch auto and the Adaptive Dynamics amalgamation abounding with alluring dampers, which accepted a advantageous advancement for those searching for the absolute in sportiness. Set the Terrain Response arrangement to Dynamic approach -- deepening acknowledgment from the dampers, throttle, and council as able-bodied as alteration the barometer hue from white to red -- circle the drive selector over to Sport, and the Evoque morphs into a wannabe assemblage machine. Never has a Land Rover been this fun and enthralling. Think WRX with Outback arena clearance, adorable body, and chichi interior, and you get the picture. For a car that is so competent off-road, its on-road accomplishment is absolutely impressive. Even our $50,020 ($43,995 base) Pure Premium four-door, sans Advance Dynamics, delivered not alone commensurable administration numbers but aswell a awful advantageous behind-the-wheel experience.

Inside, the Evoque treats with a handsome, smartly laid-out cabin. Except for Dynamic and Prestige trims, which are accessible in a best of aesthetic autogenous colors, the ambiance of the Pure trims is somewhat reserved, as in tasteful but not flashy. As it should be with a rig that starts at $43,995, accepted accessories is extensive, including a ability tailgate, Bluetooth buzz and audio, 380-watt Meridian audio, covering seating, 19-inch wheels, pushbutton start, and six airbags. Among the abounding options are Xenon headlamps, a five-camera surround-view system, 825-watt Meridian audio, navigation, and 20-inch wheels.












Other than style, there is no acumen to buy the two-door over the four-door. It offers poorer afterimage and beneath of the following: rear allowance (38.2 inches against 39.7), rear legroom (35.7 inches against 43.1), and burden allowance (19.4 cubic anxiety against 20.3 with seats up; 47.6 against 51.0 with seats down). Plus, it costs $1000 more. But, it's got that style. A asleep ringer for the arresting LRX Concept that debuted in Detroit aback in 2008, the two-door will accomplish neighbors anxious and valets say, "Don't worry, this will go appropriate up front." Land Rover sees owners of TTs, 3-Series coupes, and the like affective into the Evoque two-door, and we don't accept any acumen to agnosticism that anticipation -- it combines sexy, auto administration with a aloft basement position and go-anywhere capability. Still, the two-door is accepted to annual for alone about 20 percent of volume, with the four-door slated as the big seller.
Whether two- or four-door, the Evoque is destined to be a big hit for Land Rover. It melds an alluring, athletic bluff and smart, tech-laden autogenous with a robust, able powertrain and a rewarding, all-conquering chassis. Eliciting stares and acclaim with the aforementioned affluence that it dominates mountains and chastening with, the Evoque is absolutely a bedrock star.