Today, Land Rover unveiled what the brand calls its “new baby Range Rover” – the Range Rover Evoque, a name sure to evoque plenty of disdain from owners of the real-deal $78,425 Range Rover. (Then again, they’ve been stewing ever since Land Rover bestowed the name on the $18,780 cheaper Range Rover Sport.) The Evoque goes on sale in summer 2011.
Land Rover won’t share any pricing details, but it plans to market the Evoque to buyers “who may have not considered a Range Rover product before.” That suggests a lower price than the current Range Rover stable, perhaps in the neighborhood of the brand’s LR4 and LR2 SUVs. The Evoque’s two-door layout and pint-sized exterior suggest as much: No specifications are available yet, but given its roofline ended around neck height for 5-foot-4 Victoria Beckham, it looks to be considerably shorter than the 6-foot-2 Range Rover. (Fashionista Beckham, present for the Evoque’s webcasted introduction, has apparently landed a gig as a Land Rover design consultant.)
The Evoque looks quite similar to Land Rover’s LRX concept shown at the 2008 Detroit auto show. Black window pillars give the appearance of a floating roof, and the windows taper aggressively toward the tail – a styling cue that’s bedeviled the sightlines on everything from the Buick LaCrosse to the BMW X6. Given the LRX concept’s user-friendly technology, including onboard iPhone docks, expect to see a host of interesting tech features announced once Land Rover reveals the Evoque’s interior. With Land Rover’s heritage, expect a few assistive features for off-roading to make their way in, too.
The LR2, Land Rover’s current baby Rover, ranks as a bit player among small luxury SUVs. Can the Evoque jump-start Land Rover’s appeal to a wider range of shoppers? Weigh in below. We’ll let you know when Land Rover reveals more details, including the interior and some drivetrain information.
