Where Nissan failed with the Murano CrossCabriolet, might Land Rover succeed with a convertible version of its Range Rover Evoque? We’ll get the chance to find out the answer to that very question in the coming years as the British automaker is launching a new Range Rover Evoque Convertible. The vehicle has been spied testing for the past several months, and now it’s been revealed ahead of its world debut at the upcoming 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show.
High-riding convertibles are still somewhat of an oddity in
the automotive landscape, yet it’s a segment Land Rover sees potential in.
There have been
convertible Land Rovers before but this is the first time one has been
launched by the automaker itself. Fortunately, Land Rover isn’t charging a huge
premium for the drop-top option. The starting price comes in at $51,470,
including a $995 destination charge, which is only about $4k more than the
price of a comparable Evoque three-door.
Also helping the Evoque Convertible is styling that’s miles
ahead of the ungainly Murano CrossCabriolet. The design team has done a great
job at maintaining the edgy lines of the standard Evoque when the Evoque
Convertible’s roof is in place. And when the roof is down, the vehicle has a
wedge-like profile that gives it a sporty look. The roof is an automated fabric
unit that folds away flush with the rear bodywork in just under 20 seconds. New
frameless doors have also been developed to ensure a clean profile when the
roof is stowed.
As the Evoque range was only updated this year, there aren’t
many other differences to be found on the Evoque Convertible. Like all Evoques
(sold in the United States), the Evoque Convertible is powered by a
turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine good for 240 horsepower and 250
pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a nine-speed automatic
transmission and spins all four wheels. Unfortunately, losing the roof has seen
extra weight piled on (most likely due to additional reinforcements) as the
curb weight of the Evoque Convertible is a hefty 4,268 lbs. The 0-60 mph run
will take you 7.8 seconds and the top speed is 112 mph. Towing Capacity is
approximately 3,300 lbs.
The cabin is pretty much identical to what you find in the
fixed-roof models. However, the vehicle comes standard with fixed twin rear
seats, with a central bolster, and revised quarter trim speakers. Land Rover
says there’s room for four but we’re guessing only small children will be able
to fit up back. Regardless of whether the roof is up or down, there’s 8.9 cubic
feet of storage, and this can be extended thanks to a ski hatch that can enable
longer items to be carried. For the tech fans, there’s the new In Control Touch
Pro infotainment system which features a 10.2-inch, high-resolution touchscreen
display.
source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1100826_2017-land-rover-range-rover-evoque-convertible-preview
by Viknesh Vijayenthiran
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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