range rover The Evoque changed Land Rover forever. Until its launch in 2012, the manufacturer's 4×4 SUVs were attractive, but functional and boxy. The British brand has since become as much about the latest trends and fashion as it is about off-roading and country estates.
At the 2012 launch event, Victoria Beckham spoke about her work in creating the product. “I designed the car I wanted to drive,” she said at the time. However, chief creative officer Gerry McGovern has since somewhat corrected the issue, stating that Posh Spice was exaggerating her role in the creation of Evoque.
Still, by 2016, more than 500,000 Evoques had been sold in more than 180 countries around the world, which Land Rover describes as its “biggest sales success story.”
So, considering the model's history, it's no surprise that the designers of the latest Evoque have chosen to take an evolutionary approach in terms of technology to the city-oriented SUV.
This iteration has four different models. The Range Rover Evoque S, Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, and finally the Autobiography have plug-in hybrid options. WIRED picked up Autobiography's top-of-the-line model during a brand-sponsored drive through the Champagne wine region of northeastern France. But will this be a vintage year for JLR?
On the surface, the changes are subtle. Inside is where the actual overhaul took place. That said, the Evoque's exterior presence is enhanced by a new grille and revised ultra-slim Pixel LED headlights with distinctive DRLs (daytime running lights), giving the Evoque a technical, jewel-like appearance. It achieves a beautiful appearance. New exterior accents also complement the distinctive 'floating roof' that defines Range Rover's design DNA.
The new ultra-slim Pixel LED headlights aren't just for show either. It incorporates JLR's new advanced headlight technology. Each light has 26 individual LED segments that turn on and off automatically and are thought to provide the most effective forward beam at all times. These segments also have sensors that scan the road ahead and on both sides. When another vehicle comes into view, the LEDs in the section covered by that vehicle go out, no longer obstructing the view of oncoming vehicles.
A speed capture camera installed in the headlights captures speed warning signs and instantly tells you how fast you should be driving on a particular road. However, when driving on the highway, the camera would sometimes pick up road signs on the side, which would cause false readings to appear on the dashboard.
everything inside
The interior is where the biggest changes can be seen. The Evoque does a good job of replicating its big brother, the flagship Range Rover, inside, with comfortable seats, premium materials, and a slick touchscreen infotainment system that uses all the technology from previous examples. system. More on that later.