Photo: Stefan Baldauf
Go anywhere performance and an open top? You need more Jeep into your life. But the same characteristics plus a sleek, modern look? Sadly there’s nothing to choose from on the market now. The only automaker that tried this niche was Nissan with the Murano CrossCabriolet, which sadly went out. However, Land Rover is willing to try it too and as a result we’ll get an Evoque Cabrio pretty soon.
The first time Land Rover shared its ideas about an open top Evoque was back in 2012 at the Geneva Motor Show. After that, the automaker went silent about it until some rumors came around last year that the project is still on and we will get it as a 2016 model. Well, here it is.
Our spy photographers caught this devil in disguise around the streets of the UK recently and it appears to be the almost ready to go Range Rover Evoque Cabrio we were so excited about.
Either that or the folding system is not ready yet and the automaker is simply testing the car’s dynamics for now. Without a solid roof, engineers had to fit new strengthening braces under the car to compensate for the loss of rigidity as well as reinforce the A-pillars to withstand a rollover. All which ultimately translates as added weight.
With added weight more power should come from under that clamshell hood. The current 2.2-liter four-pot oil burners will get swapped for new 2-liter Ingenium units that are already equipping the Jaguar XE sedan. We expect the new diesel to boast about 163 hp without loosing efficiency.
However, four-pot diesel rattling and open top cars don’t quite mix (not to mention the smell), so Land Rover should also fit the new Evoque Cabrio with a 2-liter turbocharged gasoline engine making 240 hp. Probably the one that will be the best-seller if you ask us.
So, will this rather new niche work after Nissan totally blew it? Looking at how nice the drop top Evoque here looks, we think it will be a hit among some customers. Otherwise, why would this guy build this thing here?
Our spy photographers caught this devil in disguise around the streets of the UK recently and it appears to be the almost ready to go Range Rover Evoque Cabrio we were so excited about.
Looks and functionality
And it appears to be exactly like the concept under that camouflage wrap. The only difference seems to be the boot, where you can now see there’s a lip spoiler to help with aerodynamics and it also seems there’s no lid under which the soft top could go. Meaning this could look a bit more oldschool than we had imagined.Either that or the folding system is not ready yet and the automaker is simply testing the car’s dynamics for now. Without a solid roof, engineers had to fit new strengthening braces under the car to compensate for the loss of rigidity as well as reinforce the A-pillars to withstand a rollover. All which ultimately translates as added weight.
With added weight more power should come from under that clamshell hood. The current 2.2-liter four-pot oil burners will get swapped for new 2-liter Ingenium units that are already equipping the Jaguar XE sedan. We expect the new diesel to boast about 163 hp without loosing efficiency.
However, four-pot diesel rattling and open top cars don’t quite mix (not to mention the smell), so Land Rover should also fit the new Evoque Cabrio with a 2-liter turbocharged gasoline engine making 240 hp. Probably the one that will be the best-seller if you ask us.
So, will this rather new niche work after Nissan totally blew it? Looking at how nice the drop top Evoque here looks, we think it will be a hit among some customers. Otherwise, why would this guy build this thing here?
Google News