All-New Range Rover Evoque Unveiled With Mild Hybrid Powertrain, Bigger Cabin, New Tech

The new 2nd generation Range Rover Evoque was finally revealed in London’s East End last week, featuring new powertrain options, a new design, and a host of new features.

Design wise, the iconic silhouette of the Evoque has been retained but the model looks like a mini Velar as many design cues are inspired by the Evoque’s bigger sibling. Size wise, the wheelbase has grown by 20 mm, which translates into extra knee room inside.

Key exterior features include pronounced shoulders and wheel arches, new 21-inch wheels, flush door handles, new Matrix LED headlamps, and burnished copper accents.

Inside, new technologies include the twin touchscreen Touch Pro Duo infotainment system which features new and faster software, 16-way seat controls, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, InControl Remote system, cabin air ionisation, ClearSight rear-view mirror, and Ground View camera.

Technical textiles that use recycled plastics are also offered as premium alternatives to leather, such as a Kvadrat wool blend, Dinamica suedecloth, as well as Eucalyptus and Ultrafabrics options.

In addition, the larger glove box and centre cubby can now fit tablets, handbags and bottles with ease. The luggage space is also 10 per cent larger (591 litres) and wider, able to easily fit a folded pram or set of golf clubs, with space increasing to 1,383 litres when the flexible 40:20:40 second-row seats are folded.

Built on a completely new platform which was designed to accommodate mild and plug-in hybrid powertrains, the new Evoque comes with a choice of four-cylinder Ingenium petrol and diesel engines, all of which are coupled with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which is a first for Land Rover.

The mild hybrid powertrain works by harvesting energy normally lost during deceleration thanks to the engine-mounted belt-integrated starter generator, storing it in the under-floor battery.

At speeds below 17km/h, the engine will shut off while the driver applies the brakes. When pulling away, the stored energy is redeployed to assist the engine under acceleration and reduce fuel consumption. The result is a refined, quiet and efficient drive in built-up traffic heavy areas, in addition to efficiency savings.

An even more efficient plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and three-cylinder petrol Ingenium engine will also join the range next year.

The new Evoque also features an AWD system which includes the second-generation Active Driveline system with Driveline Disconnect, Adaptive Dynamics, and Terrain Response 2 – a technology first found on full-size Range Rovers – which automatically detects the surface being driven on and adjusts the set-up accordingly.

Thanks to these features, the Evoque can now wade through water up to 600mm (previously 500mm).

Combining all-terrain capability with on-road composure, the Evoque’s new MacPherson Hydrobush front and Integral Link rear suspension, together with Adaptive Dynamics technology, delivers not only improved refinement, but also stability in all conditions.

Where safety is concerned, the new Evoque comes with Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Driver Condition Monitor.

The Evoque is also the first Land Rover with Smart Settings, which uses artificial intelligence algorithms to learn the driver’s preference and acts as an onboard butler. In addition to seat position, music and climate settings, the system also controls steering column preferences to maximise comfort.