Land Rover’s big news at the Geneva Motor Show concerns a vehicle that is not on display – a Range Rover Evoque Convertible.
The UK brand has confirmed it is to build a drop-top version of its hugely successful Range Rover Evoque by releasing pictures and a video of the car testing – underground…
The Evoque is shown driving through the 26-mile network of tunnels being constructed underneath London for the Crossrail project.
According to Land Rover, such a test allowed the car to be driven with its roof down without attracting prying eyes.
Land Rover programme director Murray Dietsch says that the car had a number of obstacles to negotiate.
“The tunnels are still under construction, so we had a unique opportunity to explore the vehicle’s all-terrain ability in unchartered territory,” he adds.
The Evoque Convertible project has been under consideration at Land Rover for some time. A concept version was revealed at the Geneva motor show back in 2012. The huge sales success of the smallest Range Rover model, and the new customers it has brought to the brand, has given Land Rover the confidence to proceed with a new model which will be further away from its muddy roots than any car it has previously built.
Land Rover will announce further details about the Evoque Convertible later this year. It will be built alongside the five door and coupé Evoque models at Land Rover’s Halewood plant in the UK, and is expected to go on sale in 2016.
Keyword: Land Rover to build roofless Evoque