Already dubbed 'the world’s first luxury compact SUV convertible', the bold new Range Rover Evoque Convertible is got itself ready for its debut at this month's Los Angeles International Motor Show by completing the final stage of testing at Land Rover’s challenging all-terrain proving ground.
This follows hot on the heels of the car's London takeover, where six full-scale wireframe sculptures showcased the Evoque Convertible’s elegant design at a series of iconic locations around the capital.
Created using advanced computer modelling to accurately outline the shape of the forthcoming Evoque Convertible, the wireframes were crafted from aluminium and finished in a range of vibrant colours to attract the attention of (hopefully) affluent Londoners as Range Rover attempted to highlight the transformation of the best-selling Evoque from a coupe to a convertible.
Having created an Urban identity, the All-New Range Rover Evoque Convertible was whisked off to Land Rover’s legendary Eastnor Castle estate, in Herefordshire, where it completed Land Rover’s punishing development and testing programme with flying colours.
And so pleased of its performance were Land Rover that they released a film, that you can see below, that demonstrates how Land Rover’s engineers rigorously tested the four-wheel drive Convertible to ensure it delivers customary all-terrain capability.
Mike Cross, Land Rover Chief Engineer, Vehicle Integrity, said: “Land Rover prides itself on being a class leader when it comes to all-terrain capability and the Evoque Convertible is no different. Thanks to a combination of innovative engineering and the application of advanced technologies, Evoque Convertible will deliver a dynamic and assured SUV experience that has been tested around the world. We call it ‘The Convertible for all Seasons’.”
With the distinctive shape of the original Range Rover Evoque lending itself very easily to an elegant convertible design, the new Convertible will sit proudly at the top of the Range Rover Evoque range - and quite possibly of the world's convertibles.
Combining traditional Range Rover luxury with a distinctive four-seat design and versatile storage, this fifth member of the Range Rover family – and the first ever convertible – is engineered to Land Rover’s most rigorous standards of structural rigidity, refinement, levels of safety and breadth of capability; all to exceptional standards. In fact, when it comes to safety, with all-terrain use well in mind, the new Evoque Convertible contains a Roll-Over Protection Device that features deployable roll-over bars hidden in the rear bodywork that, in the unlikely event of a roll-over situation, create a survival space for occupants within 90 milliseconds.
Using the same advanced technologies as the Range Rover Evoque five-door hatchback and Coupé derivatives, the new Evoque Convertible features Land Rover’s world-class all-terrain capability, made up of (amongst other things):
In the cabin you will also find an all-new, high-resolution 10.2" touchscreen with, for the first time in a Land Rover model, Jaguar Land Rover’s next-generation infotainment system, InControl Touch Pro, which offers seamless smartphone integration, door-to-door navigation, 3G connectivity and a premium sound system.
The fully-automated roof stows in 18 seconds, and can be raised in 21 seconds, even at speeds of up to 30mph, and doesn't even affect the generous 251 litre loadspace.
With the global SUV market forecast to grow by 20% over the next five years, it is hoped that the Halewood-built new Range Rover Evoque Convertible "will play a key role in continuing Range Rover’s 45-year success story, pioneering an all-new SUV sector." And all the signs are there that it will.
Register your interest in the new Range Rover Evoque Convertible, or any other Land Rover by contacting one of Nationwide Vehicle Contract's representatives.