Evoque convertible unveiled 24 | 02 | 2012
LAND ROVER HAS lifted the wraps — literally — from its all-new Range Rover Evoque convertible. Labelled, at least for the moment as a 'concept', the car will be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month (see more official photos of the Evoque Cabrio Concept).
Land Rover officials say the car will "explore the potential for the world's first premium convertible SUV".
No decision has yet been reached as to whether it will make production, but expect an announcement within four to six weeks of Geneva.
The big question, of course, is will it ever make production? And the big answer has to be a resounding YES. And when it gets the go-ahead, it will be built at Halewood.
Land Rover is playing the public opinion game — as it did with the DC100 concepts in relation to the next generation Defender — and it's a no-brainer that the public will say 'yes' to the Evoque Cabrio.
Like the hatch version, the cabrio would be available in either four-wheel-drive, or two-wheel-drive, and could be either diesel or petrol.
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The concept cabrio is a full four-seat cabin with a roof which retracts fully into a tapered finisher with the roof mechanism stowed below the belt-line. The car is also fitted with a roll-over protection system.
As for the cabin, well it's pure Evoque, with all the electronic wizardry you expect of an offroad Land Rover. Plus it comes with bling, like the 8-inch dual view touch screen and unique 21in Titan silver alloys. Expect prices to start around £31k.
But even if Land Rover gives the cabrio the green light, it's likely you'll have to wait two years to see in on the roads. That's how long it will take to complete the engineering on the car.
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And how successful is the Evoque? To date, 50,000 have been built, essentially to order: and the order books are chockfull with another 60,000 customers waiting for their Evoque.
“The Evoque lends itself beautifully to the idea of a convertible," Land Rover design director, Gerry McGovern, whose team penned the Evoque Cabrio, explained.
"This study is not a traditional convertible design execution – instead we have worked with the balance of the Evoque's lines to retain its distinctive shape and create something that is unique and, we believe, highly desirable.”
Read our roadtest of the Range Rover Evoque
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Jim McGill