Range Rover Evoque Convertible revealed

Land Rover has revealed a new version of the Range Rover Evoque, which is a convertible. The Evoque is the best-selling Range Rover and the convertible will add 10 percent increase in the production volumes of the Evoque.

The Evoque Convertible will go on sale next year onwards. Earlier, Land Rover had floated the idea of a convertible in 2012 at the Geneva Motor Show, when a concept was unveiled. Land Rover’s design head, Gerry McGovern said, “We showed the Geneva concept to test the reaction of buyers and critics, we viewed the model as an obvious progression, although not everyone saw it that way. But the overall reaction of the market has been very good.”

The Evoque Convertible will be offered only in higher Dynamic and Dynamic HSE trim levels, powered by the new 178bhp 2.0-litre TD4 Ingenium diesel engine and the 237bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre Si4 petrol engine. The Evoque Convertibles will have four-wheel drive as standard and have a high level of off-road capability. The Evoque Convertible weighs around 270kg more than hard top version due to the extra reinforcements for rigidity of the chassis. The powered hood which is a fabric one can open or close in 21 seconds and a automatic roll-over bar deploys if the car senses overturning itself in an accident. This is one convertible which offers decent rear legroom and passenger space unlike many sports convertible and makes sitting for adults ideal.

“You can’t just cut the roof off and be done with it,” said McGovern. “It takes a lot of work to get the car to a good standard of stiffness while maintaining proper package space. There were some design and engineering challenges in that.”  Evoque programme director Danella Bagnall said the Evoque Convertible has “substantial” reinforcement to the monocoque chassis structure near the base of the A-pillars and C-pillars, plus reinforcement of the doors to compensate for the absence of a doorframe.

The Evoque convertible may make it to India, however, not before 2017.