Land Rover has released details and images of the updated
2016 Evoque ahead of its full reveal at the upcoming 2015
Geneva auto show. Rover was careful to leave intact the chunky and charming
aesthetics of its bestselling model, instead focusing on a much-need revision
to its dated and stutter-prone infotainment system and—in Europe, at
least—bringing a pair of diesel engine options to the table. The trim-level
hierarchy also has been reordered to align with that of the Range Rover Sport,
with the Evoque now available in SE, HSE, HSE Dynamic, and Autobiography
versions. (FYI: A convertible Evoque is also in the works.)
A new front bumper punctuated by a pair of larger, more-aggressive
air intakes and featuring slim, integrated LED fog lamps leads the update,
accompanied by two new grille designs. The standard unit has two horizontal
bars and a fine mesh pattern, while Evoque Dynamic models get a hexagonal
pattern. The turn indicators are now fully part of the LED running lamps, and
the 2016 Evoque also offers full-LED adaptive headlamps. Five-door HSE Dynamic
and Autobiography trims are bestowed the hood vents that previously graced only
the three-door models. A new tailgate spoiler with a wider LED third brake
light has been adopted, and the hatch gets “Gesture Tailgate,” Land Rover’s
take on the wave-a-foot-under-the-bumper-and-it’ll-open functionality. Finally,
you can choose from among three new wheel designs in two finishes.
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Interior updates include new seats, doorsills, and “premium
soft-touch materials.” Standard models make do with eight-way power-adjustable
front seats, while spending the big bucks can net fourteen-way seats with
optional massagers. Lunar Ice and Vintage Tan join the optional interior
colors, bringing the total number of choices to a whopping 13.
The biggest news in the interior is the much-anticipated
arrival of Land Rover’s InControl Touch infotainment system. Standard kit, the
system features allegedly easy-to-navigate menus and allows users to swipe
between screens as on a smartphone. It also lets owners access several
phone-based apps using the center-console touch screen via InControl Apps
functionality. InControl Touch Plus can also be specified (it is, however,
standard on HSE and above), bundling nav, rear-seat entertainment with a pair
of eight-inch screens and wireless headphones, and an 11- or 17-speaker stereo.
Shared with Jaguar, InControl’s reality didn’t live up to the hype when we sampled it in the new Discovery Sportand Jaguar XE, being slow to respond to inputs, so here’s hoping
Jaguar Land Rover adds more processing power or works out the kinks by the time
the 2016 Evoque hits the streets.
New powertrain options include a pair of TD4 diesels from
JLR’s new Ingenium engine family, but those won’t be coming
here—at least not yet, as the diesels have yet to be approved for use stateside.
A Land Rover rep told us that “the corporate push for bringing diesel to the
States is scheduled to happen soon, but at this time we don’t have a date.” (Of
note: The U.S.-spec 2016 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will have a diesel V-6 on their options sheets.) When
the updated 2016 Range Rover Evoque arrives here this fall, it will be powered
by the familiar 240-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder mated to a
nine-speed automatic.
Likewise, a trio of driver-assist features—lane-keeping
assist, autonomous emergency braking, and a drowsiness monitor—have been added
to the 2016 Evoque, but the same spokesperson told us that there may be a
scenario where some of the gadgets aren’t available at launch. The final new
bit is All-Terrain Progress Control, which allows you to set a speed between
1.1 and 19 mph, thereby letting the driver concentrate on picking through
tricky or obstacle-strewn terrain rather than worrying about the vehicle’s
speed.
source: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2016-land-rover-range-rover-evoque-photos-and-info-news
by: Andrew Wendler
http://www.boscheuropean.com
