Land Rover will unveil the convertible version of its popular Evoque crossover SUV next month at the Los Angeles Auto Show. We've been expecting this one for nearly three years, as a preview concept was shown in 2012. However, despite the potential for market success, Land Rover bosses are playing it safe by limiting production.
We don't know exactly how many they will make, but the number should be in the thousands. After all, they just spent a lot of money testing this model in every type of harsh conditions imaginable.
For example, the Evoque Cabrio was put through its paces at the Eastnor Castle Estate, where all Range Rovers have been put through their paces for the last 45 years. We've already seen footage demonstrating the model's cross-axle and water fording capabilities.
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."
"The Convertible for all Seasons" will be shown in November and go on sale in the Spring of 2016. Since production will be limited, we have all the more reason to believe prices will be substantially higher than a normal Evoque.
Will they be able to sell any?
Nissan also tried to make a convertible crossover based on the Murano large SUV. However, it proved unsuccessful and had to be pulled from the production line. It would be bad marketing for Land Rover to do the same.
However, they wouldn't have built the thing if there weren't demand already there. In one fiscal year, the normal Evoque (available as a 3- and 5-door) sold 124,000 units, according to Automotive News. Among those customers, there's bound to be a few thousand rich and eccentric enough to get another one just because of its soft-top feature.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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