The Range Rover Evoque is a simple concept, yet one so brilliantly executed. Take everything that makes a Range Rover so desirable, and scale it down into a compact yet refined vehicle to meet the changing needs of the SUV owner.

The LRX Concept stunned us when it first made its debut, and Land Rover shocked us once again once the production Evoque made its debut – it still looks very much the futuristic concept SUV that the LRX Concept was. Like something sleek and sexy plucked out of the future, but roaming our roads today.

In an age where customers are demanding better fuel efficiency and easier maneuverability around town, Land Rover has conjured up a bespoke model that at first impression seems very much befitting of being called a Range Rover, as opposed to pulling a fast one like former stablemate Aston Martin with its controversial Cygnet city car.

The Evoque is also aimed at making the Land Rover brand appeal to a younger audience, as well as balance out the gender ratio. A regular Land Rover or Range Rover product normally sees about 80% male buyers – with the Evoque this has become a more balanced ratio of 50% male, 50% female.

So the Evoque is not only more accessible in terms of purchase price and running cost affordability compared to the other Range Rover models, it’s also made the brand more accessible to wealthy ladies, who currently are most likely buyers of SUVs like the Volvo XC60, Audi Q5, BMW X1 or BMW X3.

Land Rover offers two different body styles with the Evoque – a 5-door and a 3-door “coupe”, both of which are available in Malaysia. There are two engine options available at the moment – a diesel and a petrol, both turbocharged 4 cylinder engines. In Malaysia, you can have the petrol engine in either a 3-door or 5-door body while the diesel engine is available only as a 5-door.

The 2.0 liter petrol engine is shared with the Ford EcoBoost family, which is also available in Malaysia in the Ford S-MAX, the facelifted Ford Mondeo, the Volvo S60 and the Volvo XC60. The tuning in the Evoque is the most powerful version available currently – producing 240 horsepower at 5,500rpm and 340Nm of torque from just 1,750rpm. In the Evoque, the engine is rated to consume about 8.7 liters per 100km on a combined cycle.

The 2.2 liter PSA/Ford DW12 turbodiesel is also found in the Land Rover Freelander 2 and globally is used in various Ford, Jaguar and PSA Peugeot Citroen cars as well. In the Evoque, it makes 190 PS at 3,500rpm and 420Nm of torque at 1,750rpm – less horses than the petrol due to the shorter powerband but loads of torque to get the Evoque going.

The Evoque is loosely based on the Freelander platform and even rolls off the Freelander’s production line, but as the Evoque rides lower than the Freelander, parts of the undercarriage design was modified to maintain a level of ground clearance that you would expect from a vehicle with the Land Rover or Range Rover badge. So the new platform is referred to as the LR-MS platform, loosely based on the Freelander’s Ford EuCD platform.

The Evoque also has very minimal overhangs, especially at the rear – this improves approach and departure angles. Quite interestingly, we hear the LR-MS platform can be stretched further about 300mm if necessary to create a larger vehicle to slot in between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport, should Land Rover ever decide to explore that segment.

Other than the choice of a 5-door and 3-door, there are also different trim levels which change a few design details on the car. There’s the Prestige, Pure and Dynamic trim – and the Dynamic trim is the sportiest design, which at the same time also reduces the Evoque’s approach and departure angle capabilities as it’s the most “road-going” of the three designs.

In Malaysia, the Dynamic Plus trim is available on the top of the line 2.0 liter petrol 3-door “coupe”, while the 2.0 liter petrol 5-door and the 2.2 liter diesel 5-door has the Prestige trim.

The Evoque may look small from the outside, but it is surprisingly very roomy in the interior. Land Rover engineers have done a brilliant job with the packaging of this car, maximizing every cubic inch of interior space possible within the exterior dimensions of the car. Shoulder room between the front two seats are very good – it actually feels like a larger SUV and it felt more comfier sitting in the Evoque compared to some other same-class SUVs.

The rear seats are able to seat two adults more than comfortably, with good legroom. If you’re going to carry more than one passenger often, I’d suggest you get the 5-door though, because while the 3-door has a proper adult-sized rear cabin, it’s quite of a pain getting into the rear, as the sporty design of the Evoque doesn’t allow for an easy entry and exit. Once you eventually climb in though, the space you have is quite surprisingly comfortably.

Plenty of the interior space went to the passengers, so there’s not much of boot space left. Although the official number is 575 liters (550 with the 3-door), it doesn’t seem all that big. No doubt, golf bags will fit very nicely but if you have something to put in of a particular shape, such as a luggage bag (see picture above), you can only fit one, and that’s it. Think of the Evoque’s boot as more of that of a hatch like a Golf or Focus, instead of the typical roomy SUV boot.

But as a city car, this shouldn’t really pose too much of a problem, and the rear seats can be folded down to make for more luggage space. When folded down, luggage capacity extends to between 1,350 liters to 1,445 liters for the 3-door and 5-door respectively.

Perceived quality is very good – there’s leather everywhere, and as a front passenger you’re basically looking at a massive expanse of leather in front of you, with beautiful stitched accents. The dash layout is recognisable as a Range Rover, but scaled down. The center dash area has a Volvo-like slant to it with a small storage area under the curve, but it’s quite a small compartment so you won’t be able to keep much at all.

Land Rover has resisted overblinging the interior – the choices of materials are classy and mature, with no overuse of chrome. Some interior designers tend to abuse chrome to make the switches and knobs of the interior feel like knock-off jewellery – the Range Rover Evoque stays clear of this. Most of the surfaces are matte or brushed. There’s also ambient lighting scattered about the cabin for a nice effect at night – you can see some of these lights in the image above.

Our test drive session started off at the Sydney Opera House, through the city. Driving through the city in stop and go traffic, our first impressions was that the Evoque has remarkably good NVH insulation. We set off in the diesel model and we could barely hear a clatter from inside the cabin at idle! Push off from a standstill and you get a nice smooth tone – the only thing that’ll remind you that this is not a petrol lump is the fact that the pitch never goes as high as you’d expect it to while gunning it because of the much lower redline.

City maneuverability was good, though as you’d expect from how the car looks like from the outside – rear quarter visibility wasn’t that good. The Evoque’s roof and shoulderline has the angles of a sports car, so expect outward visibility of a sports car as well. Side mirrors were huge though, so that helps.

We took the opportunity to try out the in-car entertainment and navigation system. With competitors using knob-style devices to control the screens in their cars, it’s easy to mistake the rotary gear selector knob (first seen in the Jaguar XF) for what you’d use to control the computer. The Evoque shares its in-car computer with Jaguar models, so what you have here is a nice touch screen interface with relatively large buttons so it’s easy to touch what you intend to select. Ergonomically, the interface is pretty tight.

Other than reading audio CDs, there’s also Bluetooth audio, USB audio as well as an iPod interface so you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to audio inputs. The iPod interface not only allows you to browse through your songs but it can also access your iPod’s customised playlists and etc. You can’t do the more advanced stuff like Genius mixes and etc though.

The audio output is pretty rockin’ as well – our test units were equipped with a Meridian sound system which delivered great clarity and punchy bass and remained crisp and clear up to insanely loud volume levels. No signs of rattling from the interior from the heavy bass thumping at this point – but then again we were driving new cars.

There are two different levels of Meridian systems available with the Evoque – a 380 watt 12 channel system with 11 loudspeakers (including a 2 channel subwoofer), or a more powerful 825 watt system with 15 channels driving 17 loudspeakers including a subwoofer, centre and surround loudspeakers.

Anyway, soon we out of the city to enjoy the country roads en route to Hunter Valley, a famous wine-making region near Sydney. We had the opportunity to test drive the marque’s previous smallest car – the Freelander – and found it to be surprisingly a fun drive. The Evoque is even better, thanks to the fact that it’s lower slung (27mm lower) and has both a stiff chassis and a suspension tuning that’s more to the firmer side of things.

But while this may mean loads of fun on the bends, I found that the ride can get slightly fidgety on rough patches. Our Malaysian spec Evoque wears 20 inch wheels with low profile tyres, which contribute to the Evoque’s good looks, but it remains to be seen how the car will ride on Malaysian roads.

The high shoulder line of the doors helps mask the commanding driving position and help convey a “sports car” feel to you when you’re seated in the driver’s seat. Land Rover also did a brilliant job at tuning the Evoque’s electric power steering as it didn’t get into the way of a fun drive – if you don’t notice that a car has an electric power steering system, it’s a mark of a good configuration with a natural feeling weight and ratio at different travel speeds.

The top of the range Dynamic Plus 3-door petrol model in Malaysia has Adaptive Dynamics, which has magnetic dampers that can adjust its settings about a thousand times a second. Unfortunately we did not have the opportunity to try that out as a car equipped with Adaptive Dynamics didn’t get cycled along into our possession as we swapped cars and drivers at pre-designated points throughout the journey.

In the models we got to try, the Evoque’s seats are very shapely, are amazing to look at and feel nice to the touch, but if you’re not built like a couch potato American, the side bolsters may not feel cosseting enough to support you during corners if you’re into that kind of thing. Not everyone – especially significant others from my experience – are into big side bolsters though.

There’s another variation of the seats (see picture below in red leather) that are available on the Dynamic Plus trim, which means in Malaysia it’s installed in the top of the line 3-door petrol 3-door Evoque. It doesn’t look like it has significantly more side bolstering though.

Being a dieselhead (we have a total of three turbodiesel company cars here at Driven), I was surprisedly that I found myself liking the petrol version more than the diesel. The diesel has gobs of shove when you start off and the engine note is very smooth – very unlike a diesel – but it tapers off very quickly, while the petrol engine starts off slightly weaker but rode its torque curve very well into the high ends of the rev range. It also feels more responsive.

However, neither the petrol or engines are overwhelmingly fast. I came away with the impression that perhaps the Evoque needs to have a higher end model with a more powerful engine, some kind of Evoque Sport if you will. At that price range, I expected to be blown away but the pace ended up feeling a little lacking. The gearbox is also a regular 6-speed automatic, and thus behaves like one – smooth with well thought out ratios, but shifts are not particularly quick and snappy.

Is the Evoque still a fun drive? Yes, but is it going to set your heart racing? It’s more likely to do it with its super good looks than an exciting drive. But then again that was never the Evoque’s promise to a buyer to begin with. It’s still way sportier than a big lumbering Range Rover where you’re more likely to feel like you’re sitting ON a big leather throne rather than IN a sporty cockpit like you would feel in an Evoque.

Our route throughout the country roads of Hunter Valley also took us to a big riding ranch where Land Rover had set up an offroading track for us to try out the Evoque’s off roading capabilities.

As I mentioned earlier, the Pure and Prestige trim has better approach and departure angles of 25 degrees and 33 degrees respectively, while the Dynamic’s sportier bodywork reduces this to 19 degrees and 30 degrees for approach and departure respectively. The Evoque’s maximum wading depth is 500mm. Front axle obstacle clearance is 215mm while rear axle obstacle clearance is 240mm.

The offroad track took us through various different off road situations – from as simple as a grassy dirty track to some very steep and tight inclines, both uphill and downhill! We also drove through a small river – at first just across it but later we got to a point where we snaked along in the middle of the river on the riverbed along the water flow, which was pretty fun – the key is not to stop or the Evoque’s weight will make your wheels will sink too much!

It was on this off roading track that we got to try the two buttons on the small control panel below the gear selector knob that allows you to control the Range Rover Evoque’s Terrain Response system, a highlight of all Land Rover products.

Terrain Response is a feature that Land Rover introduced on the Discovery in 2005. It basically allows the user to select a few modes according to what type of surface you are driving on. Terrain Response will control systems like DSC stability , the electric throttle, Hill Descent Control, Gradient Release Control, Hill Start Assist and Roll Stability Control to suit the type of surface you are on.

On the Evoque, you’ve got the Dynamic mode (only when Adaptive Dynamics is fitted to the car), the General mode, the Grass/Gravel/Snow mode, the Mud/Ruts mode, and the Sand mode. Land Rover set up signboards indicating what mode we should switch to on different areas of the off-roading track.

Most of the offroad modes actually dampen the throttle input significantly so it’s easier to feather the throttle for the precise inputs you need during tricky situations. Sometimes you also need to dial down the stability control a little as your Evoque’s wheel has to slip to get along on certain surfaces. We used the Sand mode on the riverbed.

As the Evoque doesn’t have a low ratio transfer case, the Rock Crawl mode that’s available on the Terrain Response system of other Land Rovers is missing.

In any case, even though the Range Rover Evoque may not have a low ratio gearbox (neither does the Freelander, BTW), an air suspension system that can raise ride height to comical levels or any other high tech offroading gizmo, it’s still able to do some light offroading, much more than your typical C-segment hatchback is able to do, but of course not as hardcore as a true offroading machine.

All in all, congratulations are in order for Land Rover for successfully doing a small Range Rover right, one with the desirability dial turned on really high. I’m still very curious to see how our Malaysian spec Evoque performs on Malaysian roads with its massive 20 inch wheels, but as there are no media test drive units in Malaysia yet it will have to wait. I’m also curious as to how the car drives and rides with the Adaptive Dynamics suspension system. And who knows, perhaps a shoot-out story next?

As a recap pricing-wise, the Evoque is priced at RM393,888 for the top of the line 2.0L Petrol Coupe Dynamic Plus, while the 2.0L Petrol 5-Door Prestige goes for RM363,888 and the 2.2L Diesel 5-Door Prestige is priced at RM353,888, all on-the-road excluding insurance.

Look after the jump for a mega photo gallery of the Evoque.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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The new Hyundai Elantra is the 2012 North American Car of the Year, while the Range Rover Evoque is the 2012 North American Truck of the Year. Both victorious models were revealed at the 2012 North American International Auto Show at Detroit.

The winners were chosen by a jury of 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. Instead of being given by a single media outlet, they are awarded by a coalition of automotive journalists from the both countries who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and websites.

The awards are designed to recognise the most outstanding new vehicles of the year, benchmarks in their segments based on factors including innovation, comfort, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar, according to the organisers.

The Elantra MD, which will be launched next month in Malaysia, scored 174 points. It beat the Volkswagen Passat (161) and Ford Focus (155). “The Hyundai Elantra is sporty, yet sensible. Luxurious, yet affordable. Spunky, but safe. The Elantra is a series of paradoxes and every one is another argument for the latest, impressive entry in the Hyundai lineup,” wrote Jayne O’Donnell, a member of the jury from USA Today. This is the second North American COTY award for Hyundai, which came up tops in 2009 with the Genesis.

In the truck category, which includes SUVs, the Range Rover Evoque scored 254 points, way ahead of the Honda CR-V’s 142 and the BMW X3′s 94. This is the first win for the British marque. “Range Rover successfully charts a new direction for the venerable SUV trailblazer with a fresh design and advanced thinking about environmental issues,” said another juror, Alex Taylor of Fortune magazine.

This is the 19th year of the awards, which was inspired by the “Car of the Year” in Europe. Last year, the Chevrolet Volt won for cars and the Ford Explorer won for trucks, but none of the Detroit carmakers made it into the top three in either category this year. Congratulations Hyundai and Land Rover!

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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English brands Jaguar and Land Rover seem to be thriving under Indian ownership. The Tata owned company sold 130,090 units from January to June 2011, a 13.8% jump over the same period last year, attributed to improved products and strong growth in emerging markets such as China and Russia.

Reports mention that JLR’s new 2.2L diesel engine, as seen in the Jaguar XF saloon, has been good for the brands. Also, Land Rover’s stylish new Range Rover Evoque has found 7,700 new homes up till September, and is seeing high demand. The Evoque was launched in Malaysia earlier this month, priced from RM353,888 for the 2.2L Diesel 5-Door Prestige to RM393,888 for the 2.0L Petrol Coupe Dynamic Plus. Click here to read the launch story.

Along with the sales figures, JLR’s profits (before tax) for Q3 of the 2011-12 financial year were up by almost 9% to £287million, while revenues were up 30% to £2.9billion, compared to Q3 2010.

Earlier, JLR said that it has successfully created more than 1,000 new jobs at its Solihull manufacturing plant. This 25% growth in workforce is to cater for a new model blitz of “40 significant product actions over the next five years.” And judging by recent form, there should be more than a few winners in there.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Land Rover is showcasing the DC100 as well as the DC100 Sport – first seen in Frankfurt – at the LA Auto Show, which begins tomorrow, and the company says the concepts have undergone a bit of tweaking since their unveiling in September.

The concepts now ride on optimised off-road 20-inch alloy wheels shod with Cooper all-terrain tyres, and the DC100 now also features expedition accessories, with a raised air-intake ‘snorkel’ for wading and a roof rack among them. Their North American introduction is all part of the company’s plan to explore the possibility of the future Defender – due in 2015 – being brought into the US.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Land Rover Malaysia has officially launched the Range Rover Evoque – the car arrives in three variant forms, these being a 2.0 litre petrol three-door Coupe as well as two five-door examples, a 2.0 litre petrol version and a 2.2 litre diesel.

The 2.0L Petrol Coupe – specified with a Dynamic Plus package – and the 2.0L Petrol 5-Door Prestige are powered by the 240 PS and 340 Nm Si4 turbocharged engine, with twin variable valve timing. As for the 2.2L Diesel 5-Door, which is also configured in Prestige trim, it wears the 190 PS and 420 Nm version of the SD4 turbodiesel, the same mill as found in the Land Rover Freelander 2.

Both the petrol and diesel engines are matched to the latest generation AW F-21 six-speed automatic transmission with a Rotary Auto Shifter. Performance figures are a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 7.6 seconds for the petrol versions and 8.5 seconds for the diesel, while maximum speed is 217 km/h for the petrol duo and 195 km/h for the diesel job.

Features available across the range include adaptive Xenon headlamps, push-button start, an 8-inch touchscreen with HDD and corresponding 380-watt 11-speaker Meridian audio system, 5-inch driver information full colour display, powered tailgate, rear climate control vents, paddle shifters, cruise control and electronic parking brake, among others.

A full suite of three-letter acronym traction and stability systems are also to be found, and these include Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Roll Stability Control (RSC), Traction Control System (TCS), Trailer Stability Assist (TSA), Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control (HDC), Enhanced Understeer Control (EUC), Gradient Release Control (GRC) and Engine Drag torque Control (EDC).

The Coupe has some stuff that’s not to be found on the five-door versions – these are Adaptive Dynamics, a fixed panoramic roof with solar attenuating glass, textured aluminium trim in the interior as well as metal-finish foot pedals.

All three versions come wearing 20-inch alloys, though the Coupe gets what is called Style 7 and the two five-door variants, Style 6 – essentially, they are both the same V-spoke designs, but in different finishes, silver sparkle for the former and shadow chrome for the latter.

The Coupe comes in three exterior shades – Fuji White, Firenze Red and Sumatra Black, with an Agility theme in the White example and a Velocity theme to be found for the latter two colours. The five-door expands the exterior colour palette by two – Orkney Grey and Indus Silver join the trio above. Each is partnered to a matching interior theme, these being called Sprint, Vibe and Element.

Pricing-wise, the CBU Evoque rolls in at RM393,888 for the 2.0L Petrol Coupe Dynamic Plus, while the 2.0L Petrol 5-Door Prestige goes for RM363,888 and the 2.2L Diesel 5-Door Prestige is priced at RM353,888, all on-the-road excluding insurance. It’s apparently going great guns for the SUV – more than 250 bookings were secured for it even before the launch, so if you want one now, be prepared to wait.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Looks like things are winding towards the Range Rover Evoque’s launch in Malaysia; the SUV has been spotted parked in some locations, and now on the road – reader Ken snapped this photo of the vehicle, which he says is a 2.2 diesel example, near Universiti Malaya.

The car – which was teased here in two wireframe installation displays in May – will be getting its official launch early next month, we hear. Three variants will be available, a 240 hp and 340 Nm 2.0 litre petrol three-door Coupe and five-door examples in both 2.0 litre petrol and 2.2 litre diesel guise. The diesel will be the 190 PS and 420 Nm version.

There’s a choice of four external colours – Fuji White, Sumatra Black, Orkney Grey and Indus Silver – to pick from, and the five-door gets four interior colour choices while the Coupe gets two. We also hear that the first batch of vehicles have already been snapped up!

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Land Rover has unveiled two Defender concepts at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The first is the DC100 concept which was revealed prior to the motor event and second is the roof-less DC100 Sport concept which was just announced moments ago. According to the famous 4×4 maker, these two concepts will help set the pathway for the future design of the iconic Defender and they both showcase various off-road capabilities.

Both concepts sit on the same lightweight, mixed-alloy platform and feature 2.0 litre gasoline and diesel engines with hybrid and plug-in capabilities. They both run on a permanent four-wheel drive configuration along with an 8-speed transmission.

Other features include an Intelligent Stop/Start system, three-abreast ‘social seating’, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Leisure key which is a waterproof and lightweight alternative to the control fob, built-in induction charging stations as well as the ‘Always-on’ connectivity and telematics feature which allow for car-to-smartphone, car-to-car and car-to-base communication.

As for the 4×4 functions, both concepts have the Terrain-i scanning device which alerts the driver about obstacles while off-roading and it can even suggest alternative routes. There is also something called Wade Aid which uses sonar technology to assess water depth and it can also advise the driver on the optimum speed. Another interesting feature is the spiked tyre system which can be activated by the driver.

There is also Driveline Disconnect which physically disjoints the rear axle to save fuel when the all-wheel drive system is not required and there is also an updated Land Rover Terrain Response system. So what’s the difference between the two concepts? Well the DC100 pretty much showcases the future of Land Rover capability and versatility while the DC100 Sport is an “active expression of freedom and leisure.” Land Rover also took the opportunity to reiterate that the new Defender will be launched in 2015.

Continue reading to view an image gallery.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Is the Land Rover Defender about to get a massive makeover? It sure looks like Land Rover has the intention, with this new Defender DC100 Concept set to make a public debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

It’s not a bad idea really, after all, all the passenger car companies are having a field day with modern day retro-futuristic interpretations of their muscle car classics – we now have cool modern versions of cars like the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang. So why can’t Land Rover do the same?

“Replacing the iconic Defender is one of the biggest challenges in the automotive design world; it is a car that inspires people worldwide.  This isn’t a production-ready concept but the beginning of a four-year journey to design a relevant Defender for the 21st century,” says Gerry McGovern, Director of Design, Land Rover.

A new Land Rover Defender is set to be launched in 2015. Revising its design is one thing, but what about its construction? WIll Land Rover replace the Defender’s ladder frame construction with a monocoque design?

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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While the iconic Land Rover Defender still looks very similiar to the Defenders of the past, its heart has been undergoing a few revisions over the years, with the most recent engine being a 2.4 litre Ford Duratorq that replaced the Td5 engine before it.

And now it’s time for the Defender’s oil burner to be replaced again, with the Euro 4 2.4 litre retired in favor of a new Euro 5-capable 2.2 litre engine, that despite the lower displacement, makes around the same power – 122 PS at 3,500rpm and 360Nm of torque at 2,000rpm.

The engine is Euro 5 compliant if a Diesel Particulate Filter is installed, which I can bet won’t be found in the Defender in Malaysia if we go the 2.2 litre path along with the global engine config revision.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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It was just about a month ago when Land Rover Malaysia introduced the 2011 Range Rover into the Malaysian market with the 5.0 V8 Supercharged which retails at RM798,888. For diesel Range Rover lovers out there, not to worry as the 4.4 LR-TDV8 turbodiesel is now available.

The 4.4 litre V8 oil burner makes 313 PS and a respectable 700 Nm of torque and it replaces the 3.6 LR-TDV8 with a price tag of RM730,000 on the road excluding insurance which is almost RM70,000 cheaper than its petrol counterpart. According to Land Rover, the 4.4 litre diesel engine offers 15% improvement in power, economy as well as acceleration along with a 9% improvement in torque, compared to its predecessor.

With that said, the 4.4 turbodiesel offers a combined fuel consumption figure of 9.4 litres per 100 kilometers. Instead of a ZF 6HP28 6-speed slush box found in the 5.0 V8 Supercharged, the turbodiesel engine is paired to a ZF 8HP70 8-speed automatic. 0-100 km/h is achieved in 7.8 seconds, compared to 6.2 seconds with the force-inducted petrol model.

Just like the 5.0 V8 Superchanged, the LR-TDV8 turbodiesel in Vogue trim line comes with goodies such as the Terrain Response system with Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Gradient Acceleration Control (GAC).

Other features include Adaptive Dynamics which is pretty much a variable damping system. Another interesting feature is the rotary dial operated gear selector, commonly known as Drive Select. The gear selector simply raises upon ignition and it comes in conjunction with the 8-speed transmission.

You can check out the gallery after the jump.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Land Rover Malaysia today introduced the 2011 model year Range Rover 5.0 litre Petrol Supercharged – primary enhancements to the vehicle include Terrain Response upgrades and external styling refinements.

The range-topping 510 hp and 625 Nm supercharged LR-V8 mill – first seen last year – continues on, as does the ZF 6HP28 six-speed auto transmission. Performance figures include a 0-100 kph time of 6.2 seconds.

The 2011 model get additions to its award-winning Terrain Response system, in the form of Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control.

The HSA feature on the Range Rover is always available and not selectable. Meanwhile, GAC is designed to provide safety cover on severe gradients when the driver does not have Hill Descent Control engaged.

By pressurising the brake system, GAC slows the car to a limit determined by the throttle position when the car is descending a slope in the driver’s intended direction of travel – this includes descending the slope forwards in drive or rearwards in reverse. Otherwise, such as descending while facing up the gradient with Drive selected, the system restricts speed to 5 kph for up to 20 seconds, allowing the driver to regain proper control.

Cosmetic enhancements for the exterior come in the form of new 20-inch alloy wheels with a sparkle finish as well as a ‘Nobel’ grille mesh for the front and sides, while the cabin gets illuminated treadplates for the front doors and a harman/kardon Logic 7 hi-fi surround system, replete with 14 speakers.

Luxury being the buzzword, the vehicle comes dressed in European leather trim for headlining and door casings as well as sumptuous perforated Oxford leather seat trim and a 12-piece wood veneer set.

The good news is that the price for the 2011 version remains the same, at RM798,888 (Peninsular Malaysia) and RM802,388 (Sabah and Sarawak), on the road excluding insurance.

Gallery after the jump.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Jaguar Land Rover has officially opened its first assembly plant in India last week. Located in Pune in the Maharashtra region, the facility will first assemble the Land Rover Freelander 2, supplied to it by in Complete Knock Down (CKD) form from JLR’s Halewood plant in the UK. It has the capacity to assemble 3,500 vehicles annually.

Two variants of the SUV will be available, the TD4 SE Automatic and the SD4 HSE Automatic. They’re now cheaper by Rs 2.5-3 lakh compared to previous fully imported CBU units.

According to the Tata owned company, the Pune facility (it’s not newly built, production line at the Tata owned building was earlier used by Mercedes) will be subject to JLR’s mainstream launch quality processes and will be overseen by experienced manufacturing and quality managers who have moved to India from the UK.

“Today marks a significant step in our growth strategy for the Indian market. The opening of this plant demonstrates close co-operation between the parent company Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover and we are keen to develop this further,” said Carl-Peter Forster, CEO and MD of parent company Tata Motors.

JLR is also planning a new £400 million engine plant in India, supposedly a “carbon copy” of a facility JLR has already announced for for the UK. It will churn out four-cylinder engines that are modular in design and up to 2.0 litres in capacity.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Tata owned Jaguar Land Rover is planning a new £400 million engine plant in India, sources told Autocar India. Apparently, the plant will be a “carbon copy” of a facility JLR has already announced for for the UK, which is believed to be in Wolverhampton. It’s possible that the Indian plant will be in Pune, a city that will also host a previously announced Land Rover assembly plant.

The Indian plant will make four-cylinder engines that are modular in design and up to 2.0 litres in capacity, according to sources. This fits in with JLR’s intention to replace the relatively expensive four-cylinder diesel and petrol engines it buys from previous owner Ford. The V6 and V8 engines they use will continue to be made by Ford in Bridgend and Dagenham for the time being.

It won’t be so soon though, as work on the Indian plant will only start after the UK plant. But when both new factories are up and running, they can churn out up to 500,000 units a year, enough to supply assembly in China, which was announced by CEO Carl Peter-Forster mid last year.

Jaguar Land Rover is doing pretty well under Tata ownership. They have just announced the biggest-ever profit in British automotive history with after-tax earnings of £1.043 billion for the recent financial year. This is few fold more than the £300 million previous record posted in the 2007, JLR’s last full year under Ford custody. Vehicle sales in China and India have made this possible – sales rocketed by 33% and 61% respectively.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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We’re in Pavilion KL now, where Land Rover Malaysia has kick started the pre-launch marketing campaign for the new Range Rover Evoque. To be launched here in the fourth quarter of this year, Land Rover’s latest product will be priced between RM300k and 400k. It’s a big ballpark, but Land Rover Malaysia will be trying hard to price it at the lower half of that scale.

Launched at last year’s Paris show as a three-door ‘coupe’, Land Rover uncovered the five-door version at the LA show – both variants will be brought to Malaysia. There will be two engine choices for us to choose from – a 240 bhp 2.0 litre Si4 turbocharged petrol engine with direct fuel injection and twin VVT, and the SD4 2.2L diesel engine with 190 PS and 420 Nm. The SD4 is already in Malaysia powering the facelifted Land Rover Freelander.

As for the pre-launch efforts, it’s part of a global campaign for the Evoque called ‘HELLOEVOQUE’, where the Evoque says Hello to major cities in the local language. For us, they’ve chosen the line ‘Salam Kuala Lumpur’ and there will be two wireframe installations that will be placed around the city – a blue one which depicts a three-door version and a five-door one, which will be in green.

Designed by London artist Benedict Radcliffe, the life-sized wireframe is making its debut in South East Asia. If you remember, this Hello idea was also used on the test mules prior to its debut.

“We are extremely excited about the market potential and impact of the Evoque. It’s a game changer for the Range Rover brand as it defines a completely new segment in the SUV market. We are targeting a younger market who are style, technology and environmentally conscious. The Evoque offers a complete Range Rover experience in a smaller, more sustainable and attainable vehicle,” said Land Rover Malaysia MD Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman.

Besides the LRX concept car design, which is the obvious main selling point, we reckon that the Evoque’s unique cabin ambience is a main draw – it’s high tech yet luxurious. Click here to view our live gallery of the Evoque from the Paris show floor.

By the way, order books for the Evoque are now open. We hear that LR Malaysia has about 30 names in it already!

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Do not disturb the animals – well, that would definitely be the case if you’ve got one of these around. It’s an all-electric version of the iconic Land Rover Defender, and it’s meant for use in game parks, where minimising noise levels is as beneficial as reducing environmental pollution.

Jaguar Land Rover South Africa launched the electric Defender as a concept vehicle at the INDABA tourism exhibition in Durban earlier this week. The vehicle, co-developed with Axeon, Europe’s leading independent developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery systems, is a Defender 110 High Capacity Pick Up with an EV powertrain in place of the standard 2.4 litre diesel engine.

The Axeon pack has been designed to fit into the vehicle’s engine bay in order to maintain ground clearance and wading height for the purpose-built vehicle. The bespoke battery system also incorporates Axeon’s proprietary Battery Management System (BMS), which monitors the battery state as well as measures and controls key operational parameters, important factors for an EV operating in harsh conditions.

Click to enlarge

In testing, the range has been shown to be capable of three times a typical game drive on a single charge – in this case around 80 km, with a 20 km reserve range.

The electric Defender has been well received by experienced LR drivers, including those from the official Land Rover Experience, and has done quite nicely in testing at the rigorous and gruelling Gerotek test facility in Pretoria. In use, the quiet operation has meant a vehicle with the ability to get closer to animals within a game park. All the better to see you with, one supposes.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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With its planned arrival into Malaysian showrooms by end year, Land Rover is back to talking more about its Range Rover Evoque. The smallest RR has been tasked with creating a new segment for the brand, something it should have no problem achieving, given its striking looks.

But while the 2.0 litre Si4 turbocharged SUV is different from the rest of the current brand line-up, it’s still unmistakably a Range Rover, something that’s pointed out in one of two new behind-the-scenes promo videos about the vehicle.

The next video features an Evoque with a difference – it showcases London artist Benedict Radcliff and his creation, a unique Range Rover Evoque wireframe art installation, which was made for display at the Geneva Motor Show.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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It’s called the Range_e, and the advanced plug-in hybrid diesel offering is Land Rover’s debutant at the Geneva Motor Show.

The Range_e is based on the Range Rover Sport and uses the current 242 hp 3.0 litre TDV6 diesel engine, working with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and a 69 kW electric motor. The combined maximum output is 335 hp and the vehicle has a 193 kph top speed. Land Rover says that the SUV can achieve 85 mpg, or 3.36 litres per 100 km, and 1,112 km will be possible on a full tank of fuel.

Using a parallel hybrid system, with a 14.2kW/h lithium-ion battery that can be recharged from an external 240V power source, Range_e can be driven on electric power alone for around 32km. A full recharge from a standard domestic power supply can be accomplished in around four hours.

The Range_e comes with the same full 4WD capability as the standard Range Rover Sport, with high and low range in the transmission, front and rear differentials and a mechanical locking centre differential. Dependent on the driver demand, the system decides the most efficient method to deliver the power required, whether this is by electric, diesel or both. The Range_e also features regenerative braking.

Land Rover expects the development version’s powertrain to become available in future production models, following the scheduled launch of its diesel-electric hybrid in 2013. Thus far, fleet trials with five Range_e vehicles have covered more than 19,000 km since last December.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Land Rover (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd has updated the Land Rover Freelander 2 here in Malaysia for the 2011 model year, which brings our model up to date to the recently facelifted model that just started sale in UK in September last year. Exterior changes include a new front end look with a new grille and the tail lamps have also been updated. Wheels are now a huge 19 inches in size.

The new 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 now carries the SD4 suffix, which is one up over the TD4 version. The engine remains 2.2 litres in capacity but power is now up by 30 PS and 20Nm, which means peak output is now 190 PS and 420Nm. This engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic. The Freelander 2 features a system called “Terrain Response” which changes the behavior of the throttle, gearbox, and 4WD system to suit different terrains.

It also has a whole list of three letter acronym buzzwords for you to boast about – Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Electronic Traction Control (ETC), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Corner Brake Control (CBC), Roll Stability Control (RSC) and Hill Descent Control (HDC).

The 2011 Freelander 2 SD4 is priced at RM271,388 (Peninsular Malaysia) and RM274,888 (Sabah and Sarawak) without insurance. Other than the new Freelander 2, its larger brother the Discovery 4 has also been updated recently – it gained a larger (up from 2.7L to 3.0L) and more powerful 244 PS 600Nm engine in December last year. What’s more exciting is the announcement that the Land Rover Evoque will be coming into Malaysia in the later part of this year!

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Another debutant heading to Geneva will be the Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition, an exclusive hand-finished version built specifically to customer order only, and offering a lot more in the way of plush. Only 500 are to be built for global sale.

First on the list is a handcrafted luxury interior, using specially selected soft feel natural leathers, with high-end semi-aniline leather for the seats and Oxford leather on the door casings, dashboard top and steering wheel.

Click to enlarge

At the back, things go the first-class route. Two stand-alone electric rear seats enhance space and comfort for the rear passengers, making the Ultimate Edition the definitive chauffeur vehicle.

There’s a rear console extension, including a machined aluminium laptop table and drinks chiller, and two Apple iPads as standard (the first car to do so), which takes the Range Rover rear seat experience to new levels of luxury. The luxury theme extends to the rear load space, with a super yacht inspired teak floor with metal and leather detailing.

Click to enlarge

Available in both 4.4 litre LR-TDV8 diesel and LR-V8 5.0 litre supercharged form, the Autobiography Ultimate Edition will come in two new exterior colours, Roussillon Red or Otago Stone, with body coloured door handles, dark atlas radiator grille and side vents part of the finish, though Santorini Black will be available as an exterior choice in some markets.

Rounding things off in the package are new 20-inch multi-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels and unique tailgate badging. If you so choose, you can opt for an Exterior Design Pack and deployable side steps.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Those of you who think the Land Rover Defender is cool will love this, the X-Tech Limited Edition revealed at the Brussels Motorshow.

Going on sale in UK from March, the X-Tech is available in Zermatt Silver with a contrasting Santorini Black finish to the roof and wheel arches. It’s also fitted with unique gloss black 16-inch “Saw Tooth” alloy wheels to create a sense of “raw utilitarianism”. The interior is available in Ebony and the seats offer the addition of leather side bolsters.

The Defender X-Tech is available in the 90 Hard Top Commercial derivative, with the full range of accessories also available to enhance capability and individuality. Powered by a 2.4-litre commonrail diesel engine with 360 Nm, the latest Defender boasts effortless towing and enhanced on-road performance.

Fancy one? Land Rover Malaysia carries the Defender 110 Double Cab that’s locally assembled, making it relatively affordable. It’s the “pick-up” version powered by the same Puma engine as the X-Tech, paired to a six-speed manual. Certainly one of the most unusual ways to spend RM150k. Click here to check it out.

Gallery of the X-Tech is after the jump. It’s the silver one with the black cabin and KL number plate.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Land Rover Malaysia has added two models to its stable – the new Discovery 4 and the TDV8 Vogue version of the flagship Range Rover. The Disco 4 is now powered by a 3.0L TDV6, which is improved on all fronts compared to the previous 2.7L diesel.

The Disco 4’s new TDV6 features parallel sequential turbochargers, used for the first time in a V-configuration engine. The first turbo aids responsiveness and eliminates lag by working at very low revs (84% of max torque in only 500 milliseconds from idle), whilst the second turbo minimises steep power fade at higher revs.

It has 244 hp and a mighty 600 Nm of torque, which is a mega jump from the 190 hp/440 Nm output of the old 2.7. I’ve tried that engine in the Disco 3 before, and while it’s refined enough, it badly needed more grunt for overtaking and acceleration. Problem solved. The gearbox is a 6-speed ZF auto.

New additions to a very long list of standard kit are 19-inch alloy rims and a reverse camera. The Discovery 4 TDV6 is priced at RM423,888.

The Range Rover TDV8 Vogue (higher spec than HSE) was previously available only upon special order, but AutoConneXion Land Rover showrooms now carry ready stocks of the RM688,888 luxury 4X4. That’s a RM30k premium over the HSE, and the Vogue justifies it by having Oxford leather seats, reclining rear seats and the wireless VentureCam (a mobile video camera that feeds images to the in dash screen). The TDV8 Vogue is equipped with a 3.6-litre V8 turbodiesel with 271 hp and 640 Nm of torque.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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You can have it in black, or you can have it in white, but that’s all the colour you’ll get in your life if its a Discovery 4 Landmark Limited Edition you’re after.

Land Rover has come up with two unique colour themes for its current Disco – the 3.0 litre SDV6 turbodiesel-equipped vehicle, which goes on sale in the UK in Janauary next year, will be available in Santorini Black or Fuji White colour schemes.

The exterior gets, among other things, Santorini Black finish grille vanes, gloss black 20-inch five-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels, privacy glass, and Satin Black extended roof rails as part of this LE parcel.

Inside, the Landmark offers a higher level of luxury – the high-specification Taurus interior leather comes in either Ebony or, for the first time in a Disco, Ivory. Offsetting the Grand Ivory veneer with a contrasting top stitch creates a duo-tone look, offering bold colour combinations to give both versions a striking, contemporary finish.

So, anyone for this particular minstrel show then?

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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The Land Rover Defender is an icon, a true 4X4 great, but have you ever toyed with the idea of owning one? With the introduction of the new Land Rover Defender 110 Double Cab pick-up by Land Rover (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, civilians can now play out their military fantasies for the price of a Honda CR-V.

Assembled at Inokom’s plant in Kulim, Kedah using knocked down packs brought in from the UK, this double cab Defender is priced at RM148,888 for Peninsular Malaysia and RM152,388 for Sabah and Sarawak (OTR excluding insurance).

Click to enlarge

While it’s one of the more unusual ways to spend RM150K, this Defender isn’t the usual machine you find in the army barracks. Equipped with “a host of new features designed to make it suitable for work as well as play” this variant sports 16-inch alloy rims instead of steel rims, leather seats, reverse sensors and power windows. A revamp in 2007 means that the cabin now features a new fascia and improved ergonomics, while the robust materials used are scuff-free and able to withstand the harshest conditions.

Click to enlarge

The Defender 110 is powered by a 2.4-litre commonrail turbodiesel with 122 hp and 360 Nm of torque. This four-cylinder “Puma” engine from Ford is more modern than the Td5 engine it replaces and is 30% quieter. The gearbox is a six-speed manual with an anti-stall system.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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This is the five-door version of the Range Rover Evoque, revealed ahead of its LA motor show debut. While the original LRX concept was a three-door “coupe”, translated into the Evoque that was unveiled at the recent Paris show, Land Rover needed this five-door variant to widen appeal and sales to include families.

“While retaining everything that’s great about the Range Rover Evoque coupé, this new 5-Door bodystyle will offer customers even more choice, greater practicality, versatility and flexibility. The launch of the Evoque in 2011 will expand and revitalise the global appeal of the Range Rover marque,” said Land Rover MD Phil Popham.

Although the 5dr gets two extra doors and a more capacious interior, it has not been achieved by enlarging the compact footprint of the 3dr. Overall length and width remain identical, meaning that this car is still 432 mm shorter than a Range Rover Sport. Many of the body panels are also shared, including the aluminium roof pressing, although it’s set 30 mm higher here and the slope to the rear is not so great.

Besides their own doors, rear passengers also benefit from over 50 mm more shoulder room. A full-sized panoramic roof enhances the sensation of space.

Land Rover says that the 5dr Evoque provides the versatility and luggage space of a compact station wagon. The rear seats have 60/40 folding seat squabs and come with ISOFIX mounts. When required, luggage capacity can be expanded to a substantial 1,445 litres.

The engine lineup is shared with the 3dr. Buyers can choose between two updated 2.2L turbodiesels (190 PS or 150 PS) or a new 240 PS, 2.0L Si4 petrol engine. The latter combines direct fuel injection, turbocharging and twin variable valve timing.

Click here to read about the 3dr Evoque and here to see our live gallery from Paris. There are also some HD videos here. Images of the 5dr is after the jump.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Life has certainly improved for Jaguar Land Rover in the past year or so. Production has rebounded since slumping during the global recession, with sales rising by 16% in September and by 40% since April.

With the improvement in business, the company has recently decided against the closure of one of its three plants in the UK, after reaching an agreement with trade unions. In 2009, Jaguar Land Rover had said it had plans to merge two of its plants to address the impact of the downturn.

The company has already begun hiring 1,500 new employees at its Halewood factory as it gears up for production of its new small SUV, the Range Rover Evoque, next year. With parent company Tata set to invest US$8 billion in Jaguar Land Rover’s factories over the next decade, there’s certainly more to smile about now than there was a couple of years ago.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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We have covered the Range Rover Evoque extensively, so no need to elaborate here. The Evoque, which is the smallest, lightest and most efficient Range Rover ever, carries over much of the 2008 LRX concept’s design. Made to bring Land Rover into new territory, the Evoque retains the luxury and craftsmanship of THE Range Rover, but in a compact package.

To go on sale in the second half of 2011, the Evoque will come with a 2.0-litre direct injection turbo engine making 240 PS plus two 2.2-litre turbodiesel making 150 PS and 190 PS respectively. There will also be a five-door body style that will be unveiled at the LA show in November.

For the full launch story and official pics, click here. There are also full HD resolution videos from our previous post. Live images from Paris after the jump.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Land Rover have released two short promo clips of the new Range Rover Evoque to complement the compact SUV’s debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show this week. Both videos feature the 3-door Evoque (5-door’s saved for the LA motorshow this year), with one in Dynamic trim level and the other in the Prestige trim level. Here are the two videos, with the option for 1080p full HD resolution, enjoy!

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Land Rover has released a first photo of the 5-door version of the Range Rover Evoque and damn, it looks seriously good, perhaps even better than the 3-door as it appears more ‘balanced’. This isn’t a Paris 2010 story though, as it’s only going to be unveiled to public at the LA Auto Show in November this year.

Engines have been suitably ‘downsized’ over the huge motors in your usual Range Rover – the Evoque will be powered by a turbo 2.0 litre with direct injection and dual variable valve timing making 240 PS and two different tunes of a 2.2 litre turbodiesel making 150 PS and 190 PS respectively.

Land Rover also unveiled that three ‘trim levels’ will be offered with the Evoque bodytypes – Pure, Prestige and the top of the line Dynamic which equips the SUV with massive 20 inch wheels with contrasting roof and spoiler colours, just like the red car you see above with its white roof.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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This is the production version of the Range Rover Evoque that will be unwrapped in Paris. The smallest ever Range Rover is claimed to deliver the premium levels of craftsmanship, luxury and performance of THE Range Rover, but shrink-wrapped into a compact package. Turning the LRX concept into reality, the Evoque measures just 4,340 mm, 432 mm shorter than a Range Rover Sport. Tasked with creating a new segment for the brand, the Evoque will reach showrooms mid next year.

It will be powered by a 240 bhp 2.0-litre Si4 turbocharged engine with direct fuel injection and twin VVT, said to combine six-cylinder refinement and performance with four-cylinder fuel economy. It’s lighter than Land Rover’s 230 bhp 3.2L six-pot by 40 kg. Speaking of that, the Evoque employs plenty of weight saving measures such as plastic front fenders and tailgate assembly, aluminium hood and roof panels, magnesium cross car beam and aluminium front lower control arms and suspension knuckles. Weight starts at 1,625 kg.

Besides that, LR has included various other efficiency measures. EPS steering, low rolling resistance tyres, brake regenerative system, clutchless air con compressors, reduction of engine friction through low friction coatings and low viscosity transmission fluid are all combined in the Evoque.

It’s a Range Rover, so however urban and stylish it looks, this thing must be capable off road. The company’s signature Terrain Response system is therefore standard, but on the Evoque it has Dynamic Mode which sharpens on-road handling. The permanent all-wheel drive system continuously varies the front/rear torque split using an electronically-controlled Haldex center coupling, which is tuned for “a fun-to-drive experience at all speeds”.

On the options list is the MagneRide continuously variable dampers. This uses a special damping fluid which contains magnetic particles. When subjected to a magnetic field, the fluid becomes more viscous, thus increasing the damping. LR seeked to offer flat cornering and good body control with the poise and stability of typical long-travel Range Rover suspensions on its baby.

The Evoque’s cabin is really seductive. It sports real metal trim and soft high-grade hides hand-finished with twin-needle stitching. Looks warm and hi tech at the same time. More pics after the jump.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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Preparing for rising sales, chairman Ratan Tata, who is set to retire in 2012, wants to open Land Rover factories in India and China to pacify demand. This was confirmed by JLR CEO Carl-Peter Forster who said that Land Rovers will be assembled in India starting next year. Talks on producing Land Rover and Jaguar models on a JV basis with a partner in China is ongoing.

Jaguar-Land Rover is back into the black with a net income of 221 million GBP ($348 million) in the most recent quarter, a stark contrast to the same time last year, when it lost 64 million GBP ($101.6 million). In the period, JLR sold 57,153 vehicles, more than the 35,947 in 2009. Future plans for the leaping cat include the introduction of an XF estate (see Theophilus Chin’s version here) and a new entry level roadster.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 14:32:21 +0000.

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