Photo: SB-Medien
A convertible offroader sounds like a terrible idea, but if you're Jaguar Land Rover, it probably isn't. After all, wouldn't it be great to combine the open-top experience from the F-Type with the terrain tackling capabilities of an SUV?
In 2012, the Brits showed an Evoque Cabriolet concept car at the Geneva Motor Show. Even though it was called a concept car, everything looked ready for production and that's because they actually wanted to build one straight away. What with the launch of the Range Rover Sport and the Discovery Sport, they may have been sidetracked, but the Evoque Cabriolet is back on schedule and may be shown later this year.
Our spy photographers captured this prototype on British roads. Yes, it's been fully camouflaged, but we can still make out some cosmetic differences compared to the regular 3-door Evoque. For example, the front spoiler is bigger and more sculpted because a facelift is being planned and the changes have been designed into the cabrio as well. Around the back, a spoiler has been added to ensure there's no lift at high speed, like the first-gen Audi TT Roadster had. The trunk lid also needed to be redesigned with a smaller opening.
The major advantage of having a convertible is that everybody can see the interior. So for example you can have sexy red leather popping out from the gray bodywork. Land Rover has promised the layer will go down in well over 20 seconds and will provide class-leading levels of NVH isolation.
Extra metal needs to be added to the floor and the boot to compensate for the lack of a roof, so the cabrio will be about 100 kg (220 lbs) heavier than the coupe. Hopefully, the latest Ingenium four-cylinder engines will save the day and stop fuel consumption from increasing as well because the Evoque has been criticized for never being able to match its claimed numbers.
In Germany where the tax euros are well spent on perfect roads, the Evoque Cabrio doesn't make any sense, but in places like America where the conditions are less than perfect, a tough cabrio may prove very popular.
Our spy photographers captured this prototype on British roads. Yes, it's been fully camouflaged, but we can still make out some cosmetic differences compared to the regular 3-door Evoque. For example, the front spoiler is bigger and more sculpted because a facelift is being planned and the changes have been designed into the cabrio as well. Around the back, a spoiler has been added to ensure there's no lift at high speed, like the first-gen Audi TT Roadster had. The trunk lid also needed to be redesigned with a smaller opening.
The major advantage of having a convertible is that everybody can see the interior. So for example you can have sexy red leather popping out from the gray bodywork. Land Rover has promised the layer will go down in well over 20 seconds and will provide class-leading levels of NVH isolation.
Extra metal needs to be added to the floor and the boot to compensate for the lack of a roof, so the cabrio will be about 100 kg (220 lbs) heavier than the coupe. Hopefully, the latest Ingenium four-cylinder engines will save the day and stop fuel consumption from increasing as well because the Evoque has been criticized for never being able to match its claimed numbers.
In Germany where the tax euros are well spent on perfect roads, the Evoque Cabrio doesn't make any sense, but in places like America where the conditions are less than perfect, a tough cabrio may prove very popular.
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