Range Rover has announced details on the 2014 Evoque which goes on-sale locally in March, priced from $49,995.
The raft of updates for Range Rover’s first mid-size SUV includes a nine-speed automatic transmission, ‘on-demand’ Active Driveline, seven new driver assistance and convenience features, lower fuel consumption and design enhancements.
Too early for the full story but Range Rover has confirmed a price reduction for the entry-level Pure eD4 model which will start at $49,995.
Headlining the updates is the ZF nine-speed automatic transmission which was first shown in March at the Geneva Motor Show. This is part of the story which sees the 2014 Range Rover Evoque slash its fuel consumption by up to 11.4 per-cent.
Another fuel-saving technology is the world’s first ‘on-demand’ 4WD system. The Active Driveline (standard in Si4 models) sees the Range Rover Evoque operating as front-wheel-drive when cruising at speeds greater than 35km/h. featuring Active Torque Biasing and an electronic differential the system monitors vehicle dynamics and can reconnect 4WD within 300 milliseconds.
Range Rover Evoque Si4 and SD4 models also feature understeer-countering Torque Vectoring by Braking.
Extra technology also debuts in the form of: Park Exit (to automatically exit parallel parking spots), Perpedicular park (to position the car centrally in parking bays), Adaptive Cruise Control (with queue assist, forward alert and intelligent emergency braking, Closing Vehicle Sensing and Reverse Traffic Detection, Lane Departue Warning, Traffic Sign Detection and Wade Sensing.
We’re told to expect exterior styling changes (including a new design Land Rover badge), four new alloy wheel designs and new interior colours.
Power still comes from the 2.2-litre diesel in 110kW and 140kW guise or the 177kW petrol engine.
An unqualified success, more than 170,000 Evoques have been sold since Range Rover debuted its historic first mid-sizer 18 months ago.
