Range Rover
EVOQUE D180 SE R-Dymanic
When the Evoque was first released 8 years ago it was greeted with mixed reactions. To the masses of green oval fans it wasn’t a proper Land Rover, and therefore generally dismissed, but for Jaguar Land Rover(JLR) that wasn’t the market they were aiming at. Soon enough it quickly became their best and quickest selling vehicle, in fact you might even wonder where the company would be today if it wasn’t for the Evoque. Since the first Evoque rolled off the UK production line, nearly 800,000 of them have been sold in 116 countries around the world, and 150,000 of those have been sold in the UK, accumulating 217 global awards whilst it’s at it - so it can’t be bad. So, 8 years on and what’s new? Well, although JLR have kept its sleek and modern silhouette, only the door hinges have been carried forward and everything else is new. By extending the wheelbase by 21mm, the new Evoque has a 20% larger diesel and UREA tank to improve its range, there’s more boot space and knee room in the rear, and it also has packaging for their electric MHEV and PHEV technology, which is crucial to modern day motor manufacturers. As JLR put it, the new Evoque is a really important vehicle, at that difficult-to-get right second album stage, but they’re confident that the new Evoque takes all the character of the old one and brings it right up to date, with added sophistication and quality. Have they succeeded? To find out, JLR invited me and other colleagues from the Northern Group of Motoring Writers to the spectacular Peckforton Castle over in Cheshire to experience it, both on, and off-road. Oddly, the last time I drove anything from the JLR stable was just over 3 years ago, which happened to be an Evoque. I recall that both Muddy Madam and I thoroughly enjoyed living with it for a week, so it was lovely to reacquaint myself with one again. Leaving Peckforton Castle and heading towards the M56 for Halewood I opted to be passenger which 22
THE MUD LIFE MAGAZINE
