Coming Soon: Range Rover Evoque

What is it?

It is the British brand’s second-generation small-size SUV that follows in the footsteps of its best-selling vehicle.

Spied testing at the Nurburgring in Germany earlier this year, the latest five-door takes many cues from the sleek new Velar but on a familiar, smaller sized body.

Not tipped to make an another appearance in two-door style seen in its first iteration, the new Evoque will remain a five-seat SUV to take on the likes of the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, as well as parent-company JLR’s own Jaguar E-Pace, while offering a unique convertible option that the others don't do.

What will it look like?

Seven years on from its original debut, the new design is expected to keep the chiselled side proportions and raked rear roof structure while adopting most of the Velar’s fascia elements front and rear. However, the features have been modified to fit, and the Velar’s large grille has been shrunken while the lower air vents and fins enlarged. Helping extinguish the old look, the Evoque’s side inserts and bonnet vents appear to have been removed and overall it gives the new model a squarer front and boxier jaw that matches the most contemporary models in the marque’s line-up.

The test mule has been spotted riding on large black alloy wheels and a camo-clad exterior that we’ve removed here.

Around back, the taillights mimic the bigger SUV and the rear-upper quarter past the C-pillar has been re-sculpted with an acute Hoffmeister-style kink. But from the photos it appears the bigger sibling’s cool pop-out handles will remain exclusive to that model.

What’s new?

It will be built on a modified version of the same D8 platform the current model sits on but with better ride and handling, including tuned adaptive suspension and better noise dampening.

The latest Ingenium engine family will make a similar appearance as in the new E-Pace line-up with a range of 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and diesel engine options variying in performance from economic to sporty, and mated to a ZF nine-speed automatic transmission.

A limited range of hybrid models are likely to appear with the first variant being a mild 48-volt battery-electric system assisting a smaller 1.5-litre Ingenium petrol motor. More powerful petrol, as well as diesel hybrid engines, are reported by Autocar to arrive after 2020.

Bringing more luxury and technology then before, the new car might also take on the Velar’s gadget-filled centre console with a twin display stack moulded around items such as the climate control dials and volume buttons. Further enhancing its technology backbone could be new safety and driver assistance aids such as adaptive cruise control and automatic lane keeping assist.

What’s on the wish list?

An Evoque SVR with extra power and torque and more aggressive body styling would round out Range Rover’s expanding SVR line-up, that will soon include a V8-powered Velar.

More adventurous would be an off-road focused Evoque - like the Discovery SVX - with higher clearance via air suspension and diff locks for gripping up all-terrain tyres... though highly unlikely to happen in this High Street tractor.

When is it coming?

The new Evoque is tipped to debut in September at the 2018 Paris motor show but the British establishment might reveal the new SUV before then. Following its debut in France, the Evoque will hit roads in 2019 including its local launch in Australia.