The steadily growing buzz on the most exciting Land Rover vehicle to date has reached a fevered pitch with the launch of the multi-awarded Range Rover Evoque at the Land Rover Activity Centre in Bonifacio Global City.

Recently named “4×4 of the Year” by UK’s 4×4 Magazine and “Car of the Year” by several prestigious organizations including BBC Top Gear and UK AutoExpress New Car Honours, the Range Rover Evoque is the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever produced. So far the landmark Range Rover has picked up a total of 53 accolades across 15 different countries, cruising the globe in its cross-coupe design which has picked up several distinct recognitions including the Design Trophy from l’Automobile in France. Worldwide orders have already passed the 4,000-mark.

“Range Rover Evoque is a new generation of SUV that attracts customers who have not previously considered getting an SUV. However, it stands out from the crowd with its performance and design features that can only be experienced from a premium Land Rover vehicle,” said Mr. Wellington Soong, president and chairman of Land Rover Philiippines (LRPhils) Motors Inc.

The sleek low-profile design of the Range Rover Evoque is a bold deviation from the traditional Range Rover structure, which evolved from the LRX concept vehicle that represented Land Rover’s progressive shift towards producing sustainable vehicles whilst keeping to its core values to provide premium levels of craftsmanship, luxury, performance, and the renowned Land Rover all-terrain capability, but in a more compact package.

Despite its petite vital statistics at 5’5” (height), 6’5” (width) and 14’3” (length), the Range Rover Evoque does not compromise on interior space and the traditional Land Rover elevated Command driving position, which gives excellent views of traffic and hazards. On the technical side, it is equipped with anall-new 240-horsepower Si4 turbocharged direct injected 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission, delivering excellent performance and fuel economy. Its suspension is configured for dynamic and agile handling across varied terrain featuring with its MagneRide™ magnetorheological damper technology.

Innovative Range Rover technologies include an 8-inch (203mm) touch-screen display, a 360-degree Surround Camera System composed of five digital cameras that provide real-time viewing, adaptive auto-dipping xenon headlamps that follow the curves of the road and automatically switches between high and low beam as needed, and Bluetooth® hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming. Range Rover Evoque is also the first Range Rover to offer customers the option of two-wheel drive.

Aside from city driving, the Range Rover Evoque can also deliver fun-to-drive sporting handle on various tough terrains with exclusive built-in Land Rover technologies like the Terrain Response and Hill Descent Control systems. It passed the grueling 5,000-mile full-speed non-stop driving test atNürburgring, Germany and also underwent a month-long ‘king of the sand’ durability cycle in the Middle East through dirt roads, off-road sand-driving, and tough inclines in intense desert heat. The Land Rover test center in the UK drove the Range Rover Evoque through deep mud and clay at the Eastnor Castle proving grounds, the MIRA® and Gaydon durability circuits, and the deep water, and ruts of a military proving ground designed to challenge tanks and personnel carriers.

LRPhils Motors Inc. is the exclusive distributor of Land Rover vehicles in the Philippines.

This article was taken from: gmanetwork.com

The latest Defender may be boxy but its anything but square. We test it off-road.

Right now Land Rover’s design team is halfway through a programme to redesign the world’s most famous 4×4, the Land Rover Defender. The goal is to take the key elements of the iconic car and create a cool, new and modern version of a design that has remained mostly unchanged since 1948.

For the time being, however, the car remains the same, with its reassuringly old-fashioned, boxy, no-frills silhouette. Driving the latest Defender on the Roxburghe Estate in the Scottish Borders, it is clear that this Model Year 2012 Defender is anything but modern. Despite having such a large and passionate following – and I must confess to having a soft spot for it – the Defender is beginning to feel its age despite its new, more economical and, importantly, cleaner engine. I’m one of those people who would quite like if the Defender remained unchanged. In fact, I’d like it if Land Rover created a Defender for the 21st Century but still built this one for the loyal faithful.

Up in Scotland we are surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in the British Isles. But rather than having the Defender’s upright screen frame such a marvellous view, my colleague and I are driving on a specially-prepared off-road course in near total darkness. Winding our way through the mud and ruts of a forest, fording rivers, sees us in water so deep it is over the doors and across the floor, under our feet. At others the car slips sideways alarmingly as we cross wooden platforms before the Defender regains its grip and doggedly soldiers onwards. It is a little scary but a lot of fun. Okay, the course may be man-made but it still feels like quite some adventure. As a display of the vehicle’s capabilities it’s impressive. But more that that it leaves me feeling a little wistful, contemplating my unfulfilled inner soldier or Indiana Jones.

Outside, it is very cold and it’s a little cold inside too. It turns out we were rather more dressed for dinner than we realised and we’re underprepared. According to Land Rover, the Defender has a powerful heating system good for the most extreme climates. Based on its heritage it’s clear that the motor has been in some very extreme environments. But scrabbling around in the dark I realise that we made quite an error not turning the heating on before we headed off. Trying to switch it on in the dark whilst being bounced around all over the place in a car with such poor interior lighting is tricky. Once found, though, the heating proves effective enough.

This MY12 Defender has a new 2.2-litre diesel engine which replaces the 2.4-litre diesel of its predecessor. Though it delivers the same power, torque and economy it is a little cleaner, though it’s never going to win any environmental awards. Performance is similar, and the 122PS unit is good for getting the Defender up to 90mph (previously 82mph), though it’s certainly a leisurely pace to get there. Emissions have been reduced somewhat. The new engine emits 266g/km for the 90 and 295g/km for the 110 and 130. Engine noise is reduced too – thanks to a new engine cover – which does something to improve the refinement (although if it’s refinement you’re after this is definitely not the 4×4 for you).

None of this matters, though, because we don’t get the Defender above 20mph. Its performance is all about what it can do at low speeds. The MY12 Defender proves to be exactly what it should be: basic, albeit a tad less basic than its predecessor. It’s as rudimentary an experience as you can have driving a car.

I still love it and I crave a country pile just to have an excuse to buy one. There’s a purity of purpose and honesty about it that remains as satisfying as it always has and that’s just what Land Rover hopes to retain in the design of the new Defender. I wish them good luck with that. I think they’ll need it.

THE FACTS: LAND ROVER DEFENDER MY2012

PRICE: £26,095
0-62MPH: 14.7sec
TOP SPEED: 90mph
CO2 G/KM: 295g/km
MPG COMBINED: 11.1mpg

This article was taken from: cityam.com

The revised Land Rover Discovery 4 takes on the BMW X5 – which is the best big SUV?

The Land Rover Discovery 4 is one of the best large SUVs around. It swept to a seventh consecutive class victory at our New Car Awards last year, but Land Rover isn’t resting on its laurels. It has continued to refine the model’s winning blend of luxury, refinement and unstoppable off-road ability.

The latest version features a range of mechanical updates specifically designed to eliminate the Discovery’s most glaring weakness – its thirst for diesel. The new eight-speed auto gearbox promises to make it cleaner, faster and more efficient than ever before. It should be tough to beat, particularly in luxurious top-spec HSE trim tested here.

Few SUVs can match the Land Rover’s mix of comfort, seven-seat practicality and on-road refinement, but the BMW X5 is sure to give it a run for its money.

The BMW’s car-like dynamics, sporty interior and striking looks all help to set it apart from the SUV pack. And it’s already one of the cleanest big 4x4s on the market. Will that be enough to beat the high-flying Land Rover or will the Discovery 4 sail to a comfortable victory?

This article was taken from: autoexpress.co.uk

The smallest version of the Range Rover has arrived in the Philippines.

Land Rover Philippines on Wednesday unveiled the Evoque which, the company said, is “the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever produced.”

At 5’5″ (height), 6’5″ (width) and 14’3″ (length), the Evoque boasts of a spacious interior and a sleek, stylish design.

It is available in two versions: a coupe model and a five-door.

“There are many attributes to the car,” said Land Rover Philippines President and Chairman Wellington Soong. “One, it’s a very stylish and fashionable car, it has [an] appeal to all genders and to a very, very interesting age spectrum, from 20’s to 60’s.”

The Evoque is equipped with a 240-horsepower, Si4 turbo-charged direct injected four-cylinder engine, and promises to offer additional power and fuel economy.

Together with its 6-speed automatic transmission, Evoque’s new engine is said to be able to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 20%. It also has a multi-terrain capability, an eight-inch touch screen display and a 360-degree surround camera system.

Soong said their newest special utility vehicle has attracted several of their clients who already own full-size Range Rovers.

“They have expressed that the car is so attractive that they must also own one. It makes a statement by itself in the streets of Manila and I think it’s a very, very encouraging indicator,” he said.

The Evoque was first launched in September last year and has garnered a number of awards, such as 4×4 of the Year by Britain’s 4×4 Magazine.

This article was taken from: abs-cbnnews.com

Boldly forsaking a history of boxy, gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles, England’s Land Rover now sells a compact SUV that’s so stylish former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham is consulting on a special edition model.

The new-for-2012 Range Rover Evoque with standard all-wheel drive Terrain Response System also is impressively capable off-road and recently snagged the 2012 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year award against competitors that included the 2012 BMW X3 and 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUVs.

Best of all, the Evoque, which in the United States comes only with a turbocharged, 240-horsepower, four-cylinder, gasoline engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, is the most fuel-efficient Land Rover vehicle ever. Its federal government fuel economy rating is 18 miles per gallon in city driving and 28 mpg on the highway.

Intriguingly, the Evoque is offered in two body styles. One has two side doors besides the rear liftgate and standard two separate back seats for a total passenger capacity of four. It’s called the coupe. A bench rear seat is a no-cost option that provides seating for five. The other, four-door Evoque with easier access to a usual bench rear seat is expected to be the top seller in the United States

All Evoques come generously stocked with standard leather-covered seats, navigation system, rearview camera with towing guidance, panoramic roof and sound system with at least 380 watts of power.

So price is not cheap. With a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $43,995 for the four-door, the Evoque is $7,445 more than the 2011 LR2 SUV that it replaces in the Land Rover lineup. The two-door Evoque Coupe starts higher, at $44,995.

The 2012 BMW X3 has a starting retail price of $39,025 for an xDrive28i model with 240-horsepower, inline, gasoline six cylinder, eight-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive and leatherette upholstery. Adding leather seat covering, panoramic roof, rearview camera and navigation system pushes the X3 price to more than $45,600, according to the BMW consumer website.

And the 2012 Mercedes ML350 with 302-horsepower V-6 and seven-speed automatic has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $49,865.

The test Evoque Prestige model attracted people of all ages. The look, with a roof that seems squashed down onto a vehicle riding on 19-inch tires, is urban and distinctive. Everyone agreed the 14.3-foot-long Evoque was a worthy alternative to a luxury sedan as well as luxury SUVs whose styling is traditional and well worn.

The Evoque’s interior is handsome and crafted with soft-touch materials — even the sun visors had a rich, “cushy” feel. In the tester, stitching on seats and dashboard was perfectly aligned and all body gaps outside were consistent for excellent fit and finish. Faux jeweled crystals in the speedometer, right where the speed needle extends to the speed numbers, add an unexpected touch of glamour.

Another touch: A graphic of the Evoque projected onto the ground in darkness from the puddle lights on the front doors.

After a short-stature driver adjusts the driver’s seat upward, the Evoque’s dashboard doesn’t seem high up and blockish as dashboards are in competitor SUVs.

Passengers could not guess accurately the size of the Evoque’s engine. The direct-injection, turbocharged four cylinder is from Ford and is used in Ford’s 2012 Explorer SUV.

In the Evoque, this engine is covered completely by black plastic covering under the hood and it performs like a lively six cylinder. Indeed, the test Evoque was difficult to drive smoothly because tip-in on the accelerator was touchy and acceleration came quickly.

Peak torque is reported at 250 foot-pounds and comes full on by 1,750 rpm in this less than 4,000-pound vehicle. Estimated 0-to-60 mph time is about 7 seconds, but it seemed faster than that in the test drive as I easily beat everyone away from stoplights. In comparison, the 0-to-60 time for the 2012 ML350 with 273 foot-pounds of torque coming at 3,500 rpm, is 7.3 seconds. The base ML350 weighs 850 pounds more than the base Evoque.

There was little indication of turbo lag during the Evoque test drive. Rather, there was always a steady, smooth power delivery through the automatic transmission.

Paddle shifters are provided on the steering column, but the automatic in the tester moved through the gears pleasingly on its own.

Fuel mileage averaged 18.4 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which put full-tank range at 340 miles. Premium gasoline provides peak turbo performance. The 2012 X3 xDrive28i is rated by the federal government at 19/25 mpg, and the 2012 ML350 has a 17/22-mpg rating. Both competitors use premium gasoline, but the Mercedes M-Class also is offered with a diesel engine that improves fuel mileage to 18/23 mpg.

Evoque’s passengers felt and heard some road bumps through the big tires, but they were not harsh.

Body motions were well controlled. The Evoque took sweeping curves confidently and maneuvered nimbly in tight spaces. It also braked capably in an emergency maneuver.

There was little wind noise around this sleek vehicle, and the electric power steering was nicely responsive.

Front seats felt good on long drives. Rear-seat legroom of 35.7 inches is less than what’s in the larger-sized ML350.

The Evoque’s maximum cargo room is 51 cubic feet, with rear seats folded. But the ML350 has 71 cubic feet of cargo room.

Note that the shifter is a knob that recesses into the center console every time the car is turned off. Drivers must wait for it to resurface after the car is started before the vehicle can be shifted from “Park.”

This article was taken from: boston.com

The Range Rover Sport’s ride is far smoother than it has any right to be – but it’s still a real beast when you take it off-road, finds City A.M.

RYAN BORROFF
How can a car be comfortable when you’re off-roading?” asks my incredulous co-driver of the latest 2012 Range Rover Sport, as we ascend a rocky river bed, somewhere on the Roxburghe Estate in the Scottish borders.

It’s a good question. We’ve just descended a drop to access the river we’re in, that saw the 2.5-tonne vehicle free fall, nose down on a sheer incline for about 40-feet before its clever descent systems kicked in to save our whimpering arses.

It was the most extreme off-roading experience I’ve ever had – and I discovered that I am not as brave as I thought I was. I’m certainly not as hard as the Land Rover Experience guys, all fleeces and hiking boots and not one word of complaint, despite the freezing cold.

As a display of the Range Rover Sports off-road technical ability it was a masterstroke. The new Gradient Acceleration Control system is able to slow the car safely even on extreme gradients allowing us to regain control of the car – and our composure – before forging onwards upstream.

Refinement of the latest Range Rover Sport is helped in no small amount by the addition of an eight-speed transmission system and a new, more powerful, more economical 3.0-litre, 256bhp SDV6 diesel engine. Power and fuel economy is up while CO2 emissions are reduced from 243g/km to 230g/km. This is due, in part, to the new eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox.

The transmission system can be operated by the “Drive Select” rotary gear shift in the centre console or manually using paddle shifters. With eight speeds, the gearing benefits from closer ratios (the top end overdrive ratio is longer for improved fuel economy). Back on the road we found that shifting gears is so smooth – even when operated manually – that you can barely feel the gear changes.

A “Curve Detection” feature sees the gearbox holding on to the same gear when it detects a sequence of bends, avoiding unwanted upshifts – upshifts that take just 200 milliseconds. No wonder gear changes feel almost imperceptible.

Progression feels quick thanks to the twin turbochargers working sequentially. When combined with such a quiet and comfortable ride the driving feels incredibly refined.

My colleague slides a set of headphones on his head and begins to watch the news on TV while I glance at the navigation system which guides us home, on the same dashboard screen.

Land Rover’s new “dual-view” touch screen display is clever tech indeed. This Range Rover Sport also benefits from the addition of a power tailgate. This is a not an insignificant addition because serious off-roading leads to serious crud and now owners will be able to access the boot without getting even dirtier.

That the Range Rover Sport is so able off-road is not a surprise. That it manages to remain so comfortable both on and off-roading is.

In refinement terms it’s approaching its imperious sibling the Range Rover. Which makes the Range Rover Sport a very special car indeed.

THE FACTS: THE RANGE ROVER SPORT SDV6

PRICE: £48,795
0-62MPH: 8.5SEC
TOP SPEED: 124MPH
CO2 G/KM: 230G/KM
MPG COMBINED: 32.1MPG

THE VERDICT:

DESIGN ****
PERFORMANCE *****
PRACTICALITY *****
VALUE FOR MONEY ****

This article was taken from: cityam.com

Land Rover’s 2012 Range Rover Evoque knocked us out — every single one of us — with its standout styling, interior accommodations and driving dynamics.

I’ve spent the better part of 20 years explaining to the uninitiated that Land Rover is a manufacturer’s name and Range Rover is a model name. With the introduction of the Range Rover Evoque, three of Land Rover’s four models in the U.S. use the Range Rover name. Why did I bother?

Replacing the LR2, the Evoque is a new model, technically a compact SUV unrelated to Land Rover’s three midsize vehicles: the flagship Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and LR4.

The Evoque comes in two- and four-door versions. Rather than separate trim levels, each Evoque is available with one of three option packages — Pure, Prestige and Dynamic — that represent different color schemes and interior and exterior design tweaks, along with additional features. Customizable elements include contrasting roof colors, 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels, real wood or metal trim, illuminated doorsill scuff plates and more.

A stunning vehicle
In either body style, the Evoque is simply a stunning vehicle that drew as much attention out on the road as any all-new model I’ve tested. The design says Land Rover, but it’s clearly something new, characterized by its rising belt line and a downward-sloping roof that, in many color combinations, appears to float because it’s supported by black pillars. The low roofline and squinty windows make it look like a concept car that’s escaped from an auto show — or a traditional SUV that’s been chopped after purchase.

The roof is roughly eye level for a tall adult, about 5 inches lower than it was on the Evoque’s boxier predecessor. The styling suggests an interior compromise, and while there’s some, it isn’t nearly what I’d expected. With 40.3 inches of headroom — an increase of 0.1 inch — the front seats are roomy enough for someone in the 6-foot-tall range. The only anomaly, which I recognize from the LR2, is the raised platform on which the seats are mounted; I felt my heels bumping up against it during longer drives. This annoyance might be my own peculiarity.

Decent sight lines
Despite the squinty side and slotlike rear windows, visibility to the rear is surprisingly good: Rear-quarter windows help you peer into your blind spots, the side mirrors are disproportionately large, and the interior rearview mirror provides a decent accounting of what’s behind the Evoque through the short rear window. A backup camera and front and rear sonar parking sensors are standard. If that isn’t enough for you, consider one of the option packages that includes the Surround Camera System: It has five cameras, including, most notably, one of the first true rearview cameras on the market. (It’s not just a backup camera that comes on when the transmission’s in Reverse; this one can display a rear view on the center touch-screen the whole time you’re driving forward.)

Though I love the rearview camera idea, objects in the display were definitely closer than they appeared to be. Even with the view zoomed in, the scale was more like that of a side mirror than the realistic portrayal you get from an interior rearview mirror.

The system also includes cameras in the front and under the side mirrors. Unlike similar features from Infiniti and BMW, Land Rover’s Surround Camera System doesn’t stitch together views of three or four sides of the car to show a single overhead view. The Evoque’s rear camera looks straight back, the side ones look down at the curbs and the front ones look toward the front corners for nosing into an intersection or parking space.
The touch-screen menu lets you select which of these views you wish to see at once, and some of them can be zoomed or panned. It’s pretty elaborate stuff that’s reasonably simple to operate, though some of the touch-screen’s other menus are cluttered and a bit slow to react. I’m not a fan of voice activation, but I have to say Land Rover is onto something by putting text of the available commands on the screen each time you press the voice-command button — an excellent training tool.

I was less enthused by the forward view in our test vehicle because it was equipped with the optional Climate Comfort Package’s heated windshield. As I’ve noted about previous Land Rovers, this feature embeds fine squiggly heater wires in the windshield glass that produce halos around street lights and oncoming headlights.

A conventional forced-air windshield defroster is standard, so I could live without the experience of a cut-rate Lasik procedure. Sadly, because of the feature packaging, to get rid of it I’d have to sacrifice the heated front seats and steering wheel, too …

Comfort and quality
Along with comfortable seats, the Evoque has an admirably comfortable ride; elsewhere, sport-oriented models like the Acura RDX, BMW X3 and Infiniti EX35 populate the small luxury SUV class. Luxury used to be about comfort; the Evoque still is, at least more than many competitors. Land Rover also offers an optional Adaptive Dynamic Package that includes an adaptive suspension, but the Evoque’s ride was so comfortable I had to check the window stickers to confirm that my test vehicles didn’t have the feature.

I tested base and loaded four-door Evoques. I found the entry-level interior quality to be pretty good, but not exceptional. The dashboard is covered in a synthetic material that’s padded but has an odd, rough texture and unconvincing stitching. (If it’s real stitching, that’s an even bigger failure.) Leather seats are standard, though, and if you want to throw more money at your Land Rover dealer, you can deck out the Evoque’s interior to rival the other Range Rover models: leather-wrapped dashboard, perforated or “premium” leather, pedal finishers, dual video screens for the backseat and more.

The optional backseat video system includes two wireless headsets and an elaborate touch-screen remote control that recharges when docked in the back of the center console. Cool stuff.

Snug backseat
The backseat is snug, no doubt about it. Adults will sit with their knees raised. In exchange, they get adequate headroom: 39.7 inches in the four-door, which is a 0.3-inch increase over the LR2. Compared with the two-door, or coupe, the four-door provides 1.2 inches more headroom in front. In the rear, there’s 1.5 inches more headroom and 2 inches more shoulder room.

What’s remarkable is how roomy our test vehicles seemed thanks to the standard glass roof. More than simply a panoramic moonroof, the Evoque’s roof is a fixed skylight comprising almost the entire ceiling surface. To backseat passengers, it’s as close as one comes to being in a convertible without actually being exposed.
It’s definitely more cavelike with the powered shade closed. (The shade is fabric, but it’s also opaque, so it doesn’t contribute to the greenhouse effect, as some mesh screens do.)

Small engine, big power
Also new is a 240-horsepower, turbocharged direct-injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which moves the Evoque with authority, exhibiting little of the lag for which turbos were long dismissed. No one in his right mind would take the LR2′s gravely five-cylinder over this. Aside from scooting the Evoque to 60 mph in roughly 7 seconds, it boosts EPA-estimated mileage to 18/28 mpg city/highway on premium gas, up from 15/22 mpg in the LR2.

The six-speed automatic transmission is pretty well-behaved, with only occasional hesitation, typically in Drive mode. Calibrated for high mileage, the Drive mode allows the engine to run at very low rpm while cruising, which sometimes produces a slight vibration. The automatic Sport mode keeps the engine clear of this near-lugging condition and isn’t a bad choice for normal driving, as some hair-trigger Sport modes are. Drivers can also shift manually using paddles on the steering wheel.

Respect the knob
I’ll be the first to bemoan the move away from conventional gear-selector levers and toward all variety of electronic switches that forfeit the tried-and-true convention, but I’ll defend the Evoque’s rotary knob as one of the best alternatives. Borrowed from Jaguar, the knob rises when you start the car. Once it does, you can operate it without looking down: Rotate three clicks clockwise for Drive, two back for Reverse, etc. The latest shifter abominations from BMW and others are a recipe for a wrong-way mishap.

The standard all-wheel drive is a smart system, and the only complaint I have is that it doesn’t seem to apportion more torque to the rear wheels than to the fronts as a default. As a result, it doesn’t enter or exit aggressive corners with the balance it could, but the Evoque otherwise handles very well. You forget how small it is until you toss it about, turn a tight circle or park it. At 3,680 pounds of curb weight, it’s a remarkable 575 pounds lighter than the LR2.

The standard Terrain Response system allows even novice drivers to optimize the Evoque for foul weather or off-road scenarios by matching an icon setting to whatever they see out their window. I didn’t drive the Evoque off-road, but it’s likely to outperform most compact SUVs in such scenarios.

Cargo and towing
Headroom may have improved in the Evoque, but you pay for its squat design in cargo volume. The LR2 had 26.7 cubic feet behind the backseat and 58.9 cubic feet with the seat folded. The four-door Evoque has 20.3 and 51.0 cubic feet, respectively, and the two-door is smaller still at 19.4 cubic feet and 47.6 cubic feet.
The Evoque’s towing capacity is 1,650 pounds for an unbraked trailer and 3,500 pounds for one with brakes.

Safety
Like other current Land Rovers, the Evoque hasn’t been crash-tested. The brand’s low sales volume in the U.S. suggests it never will be. There are seven airbags: two in front, a knee airbag for the driver, seat-mounted side-impact airbags for front occupants and side curtains that protect outboard occupants in the front and rear seats. Standard safety features include the federally required antilock brakes and electronic stability system. Blind spot monitoring is a notable safety option.

That’s all?
Review cars awhile and you’ll come to recognize a few observations — your own and others’ — that are always good omens for a new model. Chief among them is when people say, “That’s all?” after you tell them how much it costs. I heard that a lot with the Evoque. To be perfectly clear, the Evoque’s price rises quickly and steeply once you add options, and a loaded model hits around $61,000. But the two attributes I consider to be the Evoque’s highest points — its styling and ride quality — come at the base price of $43,145.

Land Rover missed an opportunity by failing to bring its compact car-based SUV, the Freelander, to the U.S. in the late 1990s. By the time it went on sale here in 2002, there were roomier and cheaper car-based alternatives. The LR2 has done little to light fires since 2008. With the 2012 Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover has made up for lost time. It looks like a winner.

Snapshot:
Starting MSRP $43,145–$44,145

MPG
City: 18
Highway: 28
Available Engines
240-hp, 2.0-liter I-4 (premium)

Transmissions
6-speed automatic w/OD and auto-manual

New or Notable
* New compact luxury crossover for 2012
* Two- and four-door versions
* Turbo four-cylinder power
* Six-speed automatic
* Permanent all-wheel drive

What We Like
* Appealing design
* Premium interior
* Surprisingly roomy cabin

What We Don’t
* Narrow cargo area
* Sleek styling may limit visibility
* High starting price

This article was taken from: newsday.com

WOW, what a great car – the “it” car of 2012 for sure. Jennifer Hawkins picks up her Range Rover Evoque this week and punters have been lining up at dealers to plonk down their money.

This is the new Range Rover in distilled form and in this case small doesn’t make it a lesser vehicle.

It will go almost anywhere in comfort and style, has great on and off-road manners and is crammed with luxury goodies. An extensive options list allows buyers to virtually “custom make” the Evoque of their choice with budget being the only limiting factor.

THE LINE-UP

Two body types are available – three-door coupe and five-door wagon in Pure, Prestige and Dynamics grades. Currently, all have 4×4 transmission but a front-wheel drive will be available early next year.

STYLE

Evoque springs from the LRX concept and is in fact extremely close in overall design and appearance.

Evoque embodies Range Rover family heritage styling with its clamshell bonnet and “floating” roof. The interior is textbook Range Rover but smaller. It has the same ambience as the larger model.

POWERTRAINS

Three engines are available. In Evoque TD4 and SD4 it is a four-pot 2.2-litre turbodiesel with 110kw/400Nm and 140kW/400Nm respectively. They are the same as in Freelander and come with a six-speed manual or optional six-speed paddle shift auto from Japanese manufacturer Aisin. The petrol is a 2.0-litre turbo with direct injection shared with Ford Mondeo, Volvo and soon Falcon. It is good for 177kW/340Nm and features a clever sheet metal turbo housing and exhaust manifold that virtually eliminates lag. Best fuel economy comes from the TD4 coupe and wagon at 5.7 litres/100km. The diesels enjoy a luxury car tax-break because they use less than 7.0 litres/100km.

THE RIDE

Evoque engineers have been able to do wonders with a relatively simple strut and coil spring suspension that provides an excellent compromise between comfort and sporty dynamics. The rigid chassis forms a solid platform for the vehicle’s underpinnings. Large wheels and tyres give impressive grip and an optional dynamic package includes magnetic adaptive suspension for a step up in handling (and looks).

THE DRIVE

Impressive – feels like a sports car in the coupe turbo petrol model. The diesels are similarly impressive but not quite as quick. They offer strident torque and excellent fuel economy and are virtually inaudible on the highway.

All versions feel good to drive and there’s even adequate room in the rear seat of the three-door coupe (the best looker). Off-road capability is surprisingly good for what is essentially a soft roader without low range. Doesn’t really need it as we found out driving up a half-metre deep creek then up the muddy bank.

PRICES

The TD4 manual five-door Pure starts at $53,395. The two-wheel drive will be from $49,995.

This article was taken from: nothern-district-times.whereilive.com.au

WE turn the spotlight on automotive’s newest and brightest stars, as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. Ultimately, however, there is only one question that really needs answering – would you buy one?

What is it?

Land Rover’s baby four-wheel drive, soon to be joined by an incredibly chic Range Rover for around the same price. Now that’s going to set the cat among the pigeons.

The more conservatively styled Freelander looks like a smaller version of the incredibly exey Range Rover Vogue.

How much?

The price has gone up a bit. It kicks off from $49,990, but this is the top of the line model from $65,854 with some options that take it to more than $70K.

What are the competitors?

BMW’s X3, Audi Q5. Benz doesn’t have a model in the luxury compact sports utility vehicle segment, not in this country anyway.

Not to mention Land Rover’s just released Evoque.

What’s under the bonnet?

This one gets a more powerful version of the 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel with 140kW of power and an impressive 420Nm of torque.

How does it go?

Not bad. We still reckon Kia’s 2.0/2.2-litre diesel is smoother. Land Rover hooks it up with a a six-speed Japanese Aisin auto. The combination has some turbo lag, but not enough to worry about.

Is it economical?

The auto is rated at 7.0 litres/100km. We clocked up 700km at a rate of 7.9 litres/100km.

Is it Green?

Gets 2.5 stars from the government’s Green Vehicle Guide, at least the previous model did. This one uses less fuel and produces less carbon dioxide so it’s probably going to do better. In comparison, the hybrid Prius gets five.

Is it safe?

Yes. Gets a full five stars for crash safety. Seven airbags are standard, including a driver’s knee bag.

Is it comfortable?

We’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for the Freelander (not the first one). It looks fantastic, provides comfortable seating for four adults and the cabin is quiet enough to facilitate easy conversation between the front and rear seats.

This model receives leather, electric seat adjustment as well as heated seats.

What’s it like to drive?

The high seating position and torquey diesel engines make this one a snack to drive.

Is it value for money?

Yes and remember although it does not have low-range four-wheel drive, it still has some serious off-road ability, with terrain response to tailor the drive to different conditions including mud and snow.

Would we buy one?

You bet. We had one of these cars for a couple of months and it was easy to live with.

Not only is it practical, it will impress the neighbours.

OUT OF FIVE

looks . . . 4
performance . . . 4
practicality . . . 4
comfort . . . 3.5
economy . . . 3.5
value . . . 3.5
safety . . . 5
enviro . . . 2.5
tech . . . 3.5
dynamics . . . 3.5

Score . . . 4

This article was taken from: blacktown-advocate.whereilive.com.au

Brookwells are proud to announce the launch of the new product – 2012 Calendar.

The calendar includes pictures of the ice warrior in 12 different beautiful Devon locations.

For more information and to purchase the calendar go to www.brookwells.co.uk