The design

Male supermodel and GQ.com Car Correspondent David Gandy reviews the new crossover from Jaguar Land Rover which is streets ahead of its rivals.

Every once in a while there comes a product of such high engineering, technology and design that you can’t quite believe just how far ahead of the competition it is. The fact that it is widely available to everybody and not just the lucky few, is also a pleasant surprise. The iPhone 4S and iPad spring to mind, but the Range Rover Evoque is one such product.

Looking at the design, you almost feel like the designers of its immediate competition, the Audi Q3 and BMW X3, should hold their heads in shame and tuck their tails between their legs for producing such humdrum, boring cars by comparison. At every car show there are always beautiful yet unrealistic concepts, but you can bet your children that the production piece will be unrecognisable. Jaguar Land Rover should be applauded for converting the radical LRX concept from 2008 into the astonishing-looking car I have just driven for two days in the Austrian mountains. People stop on the street or even slow down alongside you on the motorway to gawp at this car. It seems to have taken its design cues more from Optimus Prime than any traditional Range Rover. The interior is less radical, but Jaguar Land Rover now builds some of the best in any road car. Every surface is of the highest quality leather, metal or plastic. There are some great touches that make you feel you are in something very premium, but also with an almost traditional British style and quality.

The drive

Imagine a small Jaguar sports car and that’s how the Evoque drives and handles. This is not surprising as Mike Cross, who is known for making Jaguars drive, ride and handle as well as they do, is now “chief engineer for vehicle integrity” for the whole of the Jaguar Land Rover fleet, including the Evoque.

Both 2WD and 4WD are extremely agile, the steering as precise but at the same time refined as any other Range Rover. Both variants give you huge confidence, but the 4WD has that little bit extra stability. Never has a crossover been so capable: it really is “the bee’s whiskers” as my grandfather use to say.

With a platform adapted from the Freelander, the Evoque’s off-road credentials are outstanding. Unlike most BMW or Audi crossovers, this is not just a beefed-up road car with a 4×4 system. In fact, it is more of a true off-road vehicle with sports hard handling. But even the 2WD (with winter tyres) got us up steep snow and ice-covered mountain roads, so would be more than capable of anything a British winter could throw at it.

One tip: the magnetic dampers are the latest version on any road car and are superb. They obviously allow for adaptive dynamics, but the ride is noticeably improved.

The engine

There are four forms of engine and it all gets slightly confusing, to be honest. But what you need to know is for the 2WD you can only choose the 150bhp 2.2-litre diesel with 380nm of torque. However with the 4WD there is a 2.2-litre diesel with either 150 bhp and 400nm of torque or 190bhp and 420nm. There is also a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 240bhp and 340nm.

The engine to go for is the 190bhp diesel: quiet, powerful with ample amounts of pull. The 150bhp is perfectly adequate, but feels a little breathless when pushing on. The strong torque can be felt and used to good effect, but only go for this if the carbon dioxide levels are of that great importance to you. I hated the 2.0-litre petrol engine. Forget the 240bhp and 0-60mph time of 7.0 seconds, it just reminded me of a cheap American rental car engine – in other words, lots of horrible four-cylinder noise all the way to the red line and even more horrible when connected to an auto gearbox. In a few years’ time Jaguar Land Rover will start to build its own engines, specifically to fit its engine bays and car requirements. At the moment it is relying on Ford.

This car is also a very green crossover. In fact, an emission from the Jolly Green Giant is probably more danger to the environment. The 150bhp 2.2-litre diesel emits just 129g/kg and uses up to 62mpg. Even the (probably most popular) 2.2-litre 190 Bhp engine emits 149 CO2 and 54mpg – figures you would normally expect from a small city car.

The conclusion

In a world where superminis such at the Audi A1 and, er, Mini can reach well over £20K then the Evoque seems almost good value, starting as it does at £28K for the 2WD and 29L for the 4WD. Although for it to have any sort of desirability and re-sale value then you’re going to want to add quite a few extras, so realistically think £36K and over (although people are apparently going upwards of 45K).

This car seems to have an answer for everything: great off-road to keep the traditionalists happy, superb on the road for driving enthusiasts. If you want cosseting and luxury, you’ve got it. The low-emissions, frugal 2.2-litre diesel 2WD gives company car drivers what they need and environmentalists cannot complain about the 50+mpg and greener production. Many people have criticised the styling to me, but this is the UK: we don’t take kindly to modern thinking and change (and, come to think of it, seem to be slightly suspicious of anything without an Audi badge). However annoying, their criticism only serves to attract me to the car even more.

I suppose you could say it is a tad expensive, but I would hope this is to keep the Evoque exclusive. However with the popularity of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, and considering just how bloody good this car is, I can’t see that exclusivity being maintained, but frankly who cares. They are a pleasure to look at on the road. Let’s face it, Jaguar Land Rover can do no wrong and this is something we should be very proud of. The Evoque is an outstanding car, and I believe the best example yet of what happens when British designers and engineers are given ample opportunity and investment in order to prove themselves the best in the world.

This article was taken from: gq-magazine.co.uk

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 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

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

THE Romans ruled Scotland after building the Dere Street road across the border from England in 81AD.
Almost 2,000 years later, the new Range Rover Sport ploughs through the tough terrain on the same stretch to prove it’s king of the off-road.

Roman general Julius Caesar’s famous Latin saying veni, vidi, vici (I came, I saw, I conquered) seemed appropriate for the way the Rangie trampled and trudged its way over the horrendous rutted, muddy and flooded conditions.

The Sport has been revised for 2012 along with the Discovery and Defender. And we had first drives of all three in the beautiful Borders at the weekend.

The Roman empire ended in 1453 AD, but the Land Rover empire still rules 2011 SUV.

ROMAN roads were built using four layers with a clay or sand base, heavy stones, clay or broken pottery and a top surface of cobbles or gravel.

In other words, pretty much the same quality as our current dreadful road surfaces.

However, Dere Street is now just 180 miles of treacherous deep mud, floods and ruts.

It certainly wouldn’t be fit for an army on horseback to cross the border. But it didn’t stop the horsepower of the Range Rover Sport marching on.

Before the Evoque arrived, the Sport was widely-regarded as just the fashion statement of the line-up compared to the rugged Range Rover, Discovery and Defender.

But — as our pictures show — the drive proved once again that the Sport is just as capable as its macho brothers.

The 2012 model-year Range Sport is more powerful, more economical, and has an upgraded infotainment system and a new, electric-powered, lightweight aluminium tailgate.

It gets a tweaked 3litre V6 turbo diesel which comes in two new versions — the TDV6 with 208bhp, which sees CO2 emissions drop from 243 to 224g/km, crucially dropping it down to tax band K.

There is also an SDV6 with an extra 11bhp — which I drove. Emissions also drop from 243g/km to 230g/km, so the car stays in band L.

Much of the fuel economy improvement is down to a new eight-speed ZF autobox which produces incredibly slick and intelligent gear changing.

It’s claimed the ZF shifts ratios in 200 MILLISECONDS and can monitor the driver’s actions. It can hold gears through bends and cleverly remembers the rate of decceleration and brake use to select the right gear for entry and exit into corners.

The gearbox can even switch to a lower ratio to run the engine faster, both to warm it up more quickly or power-up the air conditioning to cool a hot cabin.

A number of subtle styling changes have been made to the exterior — there’s a black grille surround and new headlights, as well as colour-coded door handles, giving a cleaner look. The firm’s Dual View sat nav and DVD screen is available for the first time and the audio is upgraded with an 11-speaker, 380W Harmon Kardon system.

Inside, it remains a top quality affair and now has even more drama with the conventional gear lever replaced by the rotary dial from the Jaguar XJ — which pops up slowly when you press the ignition button.

The other big change is the powered aluminium tailgate. It was prompted by complaints from owners about the difficulty in reaching and shutting the old heavy tailgate.

On the road, the Sport remains one of the great drives in motoring.

The fantastic driving position in the sumptuous leather seats gives you the best vision of the road and, along with rapid performance, makes this a glorious experience.

It’s like controlling an Xbox driving game in your favourite armchair.
It’s so comfy, relaxing and effortless that I found myself spending more time admiring the incredible scenery — especially the incredible sunset and moon together at Iron Age Hill Fort. But there was no distracting from the Sport’s ability to roar past other vehicles with overtaking manoeuvres of epic proportions.

On the roads around Kelso and Floors Castle the Sport was surprisingly agile at cornering at speed, which underlines its name and sets it apart from more robust Discovery and standard Range Rover stablemates.

You can’t throw the 2.6tonne Sport into corners like a real sports car, but the outstanding handling and brakes — aided by the superb vision — means you can really get your foot down with confidence.

Off-road, it is just as accomplished as the Disco. It uses the same simple-to-operate Terrain Response system which can switch controls for conditions at the touch of a button.

The Sport not only dealt with the Roman roads, it comfortably drove through fast-flowing water, which lapped over the bonnet, and crawled down slippery 45-degree slopes that I couldn’t even WALK down.

In a way it’s a shame that most Range Sport buyers will barely scratch the surface of this car’s talents — it will more likely be used for mounting school kerbs than climbing mountains.

This Sport is as good as luxury driving gets thanks to the vision and confidence in all conditions — especially with winter now here. It’s not cheap, with prices starting at £55,150. But this is the ultimate in pampered motoring.

If only the Romans had this sort of horsepower. They would have surely called it the Range Sporticus.

This article was taken from: thesun.co.uk

An all-new, fourth-generation Range Rover flagship will be launched in autumn 2012 – and insiders claim it will be the most radical and technically advanced car in the brand’s history.

This exclusive image uses accurate information from company sources to show how Land Rover’s radical new range-topper will look when it replaces today’s Mk3 version, 11 years after the BMW-engineered model was first launched.

Codenamed L405, the Mk4 Range Rover picks up on the sporty styling of the new Evoque and, in so doing, drops a number of long-established Range Rover design cues. The interior will feature a big leap in quality and luxury, cementing the Range Rover firmly in the global market as an out-and-out luxury car.

The Range Rover Mk4 will be built around a new pressed aluminium monocoque, so it will be much lighter than the current car despite an increase in size. Nearly half a tonne should be lopped off the weight of today’s car. The new aluminium platform is slightly wider and around 25mm longer than today’s car.

However, the new architecture has allowed the rear wheels to be pushed further towards the back of the car. The upshot is that rear legroom has improved by as much as 125mm, allowing the rear cabin to compete against the most upmarket luxury cars. Longer rear doors will improve cabin access, too.

The new car has a more steeply raked windscreen and more of a sloping roofline than even today’s Range Rover Sport. The substantial headlamps and rear light clusters that are such a significant part of today’s car will be much slimmer and less obtrusive. Even the vent in the front wing is now dramatically slanted, reflecting the angle of the windscreen.

Although the interior design of today’s Range Rover is highly regarded, the new model is aiming even higher. Sources say the company wants to achieve “Bentley levels of craftsmanship and quality”, as befits a car that will cost over £100,000 in some guises. The luxurious interior of this year’s £130k Autobiography Ultimate Edition offers the best clues to the theme of the Mk4 model.

The car will have the same basic range of engines as today’s, including V6 and V8 diesels, and V8 and supercharged V8 petrols. However, some sources say that a petrol V6 and possibly a supercharged petrol V6 may also be offered. The new V6 made its debut in Jaguar’s C-X16 sports car concept at the Frankfurt show last month. The only V6 petrol engine currently on offer in a JLR product is a Ford unit that recently made a comeback in the XJ for sale in China only.

The new petrol V6 might also be used in a plug-in hybrid version, previewed this year in the Range_e concept. It’s expected to use a 69kW electric motor (integrated into the eight-speed automatic gearbox) with a 14kWh battery, giving it the ability to cover about 20 miles on pure electric power. The Range_e proved that a diesel-electric hybrid is possible, but a petrol-electric version is likely to be favoured because of its popularity in the US and Asia and its lower cost and weight.

All versions of the Mk4 Range Rover will be notably more economical than the current model. The main reason is the switch to the pressed and riveted aluminium monocoque. This should save about 450kg, allowing the entry-level TDV6 model’s CO2 rating to creep below 200g/km.

The new car is expected to share a floor and crash structure with the next-gen Jaguar XJ, but with a unique bulkhead, suspension mounts, seating position and subframes. The Range Rover is also expected to share a new electrical architecture with the XJ.

Jaguar Land Rover is poised to invest tens of millions in re-equipping Land Rover’s Solihull factory to build the aluminium structure. This structure will also underpin the next-gen (and seven-seat) Range Rover Sport. It could also be used for a fourth Range Rover model that would sit between the top-end Evoque and the entry-level Sport.

This article was taken from: autocar.co.uk

Iain Dooley checks out the Range Rover Sport – more youthful than the flagship 4×4.

Engines – From launch the Range Rover Sport was available with a handful of engines – a modest V6 diesel and a pair of beefy V8 petrol motors. In reality the former helped keep more of your money in your pocket, although the V8s allowed you to fully exploit the car’s abilities. A series of revisions and an upgraded diesel motor improved performance.

Exterior – The squared-off looks of the Sport were judged by Land Rover to be more attractive to the younger buyers they were seeking. Although there are visual similarities with the flagship Range Rover, the Sport is a little smaller when parked side by side.

Interior – Borrowing more design themes from the Land Rover Discovery than the Range Rover, the Sport’s more practical, and slightly less luxurious, interior hints at a car designed to be used hard. There’s still plenty of leather but it’s easy to see it as a family car. Cabin space is reasonable and there’s no shortage of load space in the rear.

Driving – Surprisingly agile for its size, the car’s lofty driving position gives you an excellent view of the road ahead. In V8 trim the car is rapid, although such antics are better reserved for straight bits of road. The early diesel V6 wasn’t especially quick but was an excellent towing machine. If it’s performance you’re after, you’ll need the more recent – and more expensive – 3.0-litre V6 diesel variant.

Ownership – Assuming you have the space and aren’t fazed by piloting a large car like this, Range Rover Sport ownership is straightforward. If you opt for petrol be prepared to spend a lot of money on fuel – especially if your routine includes a lot of town driving. Opting for diesel will be easier on the wallet, but any off-roading or towing activities will see fuel consumption drop. If that hasn’t scared you off, the Sport does offer plenty of cabin and load space for a busy family.

What to look for – Some view the Sport as an urban ‘trophy’ car, which means you need to take extra care examining the car for parking dents and scrapes. Kerbed wheels on a 4×4 can mean unseen damage elsewhere – steering and suspension – and makes the test-drive all the more important. Damage to the car’s plush interior could also indicate a hard life, and it’s important to ask what the car towed if the kit is present. It goes without saying that everything should work, including the complex 4×4 system, and a fully stamped service book is essential.

Model history – 2005, Land Rover launches the Range Rover Sport. Both V8 petrol and V6 diesel engines plus auto gearboxes and a comprehensive all-wheel drive system featured heavily, alongside a plush cabin complete with a high level of standard kit. Minor cosmetic revisions plus a power boost for the diesel variant help maintain its appeal.

Reasons to buy – Easier to live with than a Range Rover, V8 performance, diesel economy, plush cabin, go-anywhere ability, brand image.

Reasons be beware – Modest early diesel performance, size, running costs, V8 thirst.

Pick of the range – 2.7 TDV6 SE.

What to pay – 2005 05 £20,050; 2005 55 £20,275; 2006 06 £21,725; 2006 56 £22,300; 2007 07 £24,650; 2007 57 £25,450; 2008 08 £27,525; 2008 58 £28,275; 2009 09 £30,800; 2009 59 £31,925; 2010 10 34,175. Showroom prices for cars in A1 condition.

This article was taken from: edp24.co.uk

Yours sincerely would have been among the first few people to test-drive the all-new Range Rover Evoque in the United Kindgom two months ago but for visa hitches.

I had applied for the UK Visa where the test drive was to hold more than three weeks to the trip, filing all necessary papers but was surprised that the visa couldn’t be issued as at the time of the scheduled trip.

My excitement to be among the very first set of people in the world to test- drive this much talked about Sports Utility Vehicle by Range Rover was dashed. I had told friends and colleagues about this test drive and was wondering how to present the story to my readers.

I was quite confident that I will secure the visa having not been denied visa before. But the visa came a day after the scheduled trip causing me a lifetime experience. Even till the last day, my optimism to make the trip remained high.

I had to visit the visa office almost thrice on the last day hoping that the visa would be sent to Lagos from Abuja on that day but that did not come to pass, only for me to receive a test massage the following Monday that the visa was ready. That was how I missed being part of the epoch making event.

But I have put that behind me. Making history or not , the new Range Rover Evoque has been introduced and it is living up to expectations, flying the Range Rover flag higher in the Compact Sports Utility Vehicle segment. Since its launch, the Evoque has won some notable awards to herald its arrival.

It is a typical Range Rover with premium features which the bigger Range Rover are known for. Maybe, the only thing you will miss is the intimidating size of the Range Rover Sports and HSE models.

It has amazing power, luxury, safety, and off-road and on-road capabilities like the bigger Range Rover with the advantage of fuel economy. For the young executives and the young at heart who have made it in life, the all-new Range Rover Evoque would fit into their garages like a fitted suite, especially with it radical design.

Available in different engine variants, the Evoque delivers top class performance that the Range Rover siblings are known for. The 2.0 litre 4 cylinder engine version of the Evoque develops 238 brake horse-power and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds and maximum speed of 135mph. There is also a 2.2 diesel powerplant and a turbo engine version that develops 240 brake horse- power.

The Evoque is equipped with either a six-speed automatic transmission or manual transmission with four wheel drive and both deliver well off-road and on-road.

Built to attract attention, the Evoque is available in five door and three door versions.

The Evoque powerful suspensions ensure smooth handling on every terrain. Where even the finest hot hatches would fear to take, the Evoque conquers.

It flows over the worst terrain. The optional magnetorheological damper fitted to the Evoque makes conquering of every terrain possible. Though essentially the same system used in the Ferrari 599 and Audi R8, the Evoque is the first car in the world to get the third generation ‘MagneRide’ system and the result is phenomenal.

Inside the all-new Evoque is a typical Range Rover with premium features. Leather seats, individual air conditioning system, DVD player, keyless entry, power windows, power morrior and the latest technologies that are seen in today’s luxury cars.

Safety is at its highest level in the all new Evoque, as Range Rover has brought all the safety features in the bigger model and more into the all new Evoque.

This article was taken from: vanguardngr.com