StyleISSUE

8 THE STANDARD STYLE / MAN / WHEELS
August 3 to 9 2014
2014 Evoque way better
Fact Jeke
This is the love of my life…..literally.
Especially after driving the Coupe
in the Savuti, Botswana all the way
onto a Ferry into Livingstone Zambia.
The handling is not for the weak
and sweet but the Evoque handled
all rough terrains with so hussles.
With worldwide sales of nearly
34 000 units in 2013, the Range Rover
Evoque still tops the ‘most wanted’
list of premium compact SUVs in
the world – and makes a further leap
forward with the introduction of a
host of new technologies for its 2014
facelift. These technologies aim to
keep the svelte and sexy SUV at the
front of the chasing pack by lowering
fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
as well as introducing new
comfort and convenience features.
A new automatic transmission
and five new driver assistance features
are the technical highlights.
First shown at the Geneva Motor
Show in March, the ZF-9HP automatic
transmission is among the
world’s first 9-speed units fitted to
a passenger car. It has an ultra-fast
response time, described by ZF as
“below the threshold of perception”
and an adaptive shift programme
that quickly learns driving style.
With a wide spread of ratios and
improved efficiency, the new transmission
delivers improved economy,
reduced emissions, enhanced performance
and greater comfort. It
will also benefit towing ability.
Coupled to the acclaimed Terrain
Response condition-specific
matrix, it gives the 2014 Range Rover
Evoque the ability to master just
about any driving environment.
Adding to that is a raft of optional
driver assistance features. These
include: Park Exit (to automatically
exit parallel parking bays), Perpendicular
Park (to position the car
centrally in parking bays), Closing
Vehicle Sensing and Reverse Traffic
Detection (to warn drivers of oncoming
traffic) and Wade Sensing.
In addition, a Torque Vectoring by
Braking feature, available across
both powertrains, further enhances
agility and safety by redirecting
torque between all four wheels to
counteract understeer.
“The Range Rover Evoque has
been a game-changer in the local
market, its mix of style and capability
still unrivalled,” says Kevin
Flynn, Managing Director of Jaguar
Land Rover South Africa and
sub-Sahara Africa. “A nine-speed
automatic transmission puts it into
a different league as far as technology
goes, confirming that Evoque
represents way more than a fashion
statement. It is an extremely capable
all-rounder, both on and off the
road.”
In addition to the new technologies,
there are detail changes to the
Evoque’s exterior, new colour options
for the interior, four new alloy
wheel styles and a new style of Land
Rover badge on the grille, wheel centres
and tailgate.
New exterior mirrors, despite a
reduced overall size, do not adversely
affect rearward visibility and provide
better ‘see-through’ between
the A-pillar and the mirror housing.
The model line-up now consists of
three equipment grades: the new
Pure, along with the existing Prestige
and Dynamic models. The easiest
way to tell them apart at a glance
is badging and wheels: Pure has 18-
inch wheels and Evoque badging in
black, the Prestige goes up an inch
to 19s and has badging in silver,
and the Dynamic combines 20-inch
wheels and red badging.
Panoramic sunroof, privacy
glass, rain-sensing wipers, Xenon
headlamps, power tailgate and
Navigation are just some of the features
also fitted as standard to the
Prestige, while the Dynamic adds
grained leather for the upholstery,
full electric adjustment on the front
seats, and – as a luxury flourish – illuminated
tread plates. All derivatives
gain a sliding centre console
armrest, with fore/aft travel in the
order of 150mm.
An extensive array of options
allows every Range Rover Evoque
owner to build a car to their tastes,
whether talking wheel style or
headlining colour. A choice of three
contrast roof colours continues to
be available, and while the sky is
pretty much the limit when combin-
ing with the main body colour, customers
are aided in their selection
by recommended combinations and
designer’s choices.
The 2014 Range Rover Evoque
range is powered by Land Rover’s
economical and lightweight fourcylinder
engines with a choice of
either the 2.2 diesel 140kW SD4 engine
or 2.0 petrol 177kW Si4 engine.
Thanks to the revolutionary new
transmission, Fuel usage is improved
by around 5 percent and CO2
emissions reduced by up to 4 percent
– depending on model.
“The new, 2014 Range Rover
Evoque is set to continue doing
what its predecessor did: combining
form and function with an assurance
which very few rivals can muster.
With a new equipment grade it
has broader appeal than ever, while
the additional technology has very
real benefits too, not least of all the
performance, fuel consumption and
emission benefits of the new 9-speed
transmission,” concludes Flynn.
For pricing and availability, check
with your local Landrover dealer
have all the information you need.
Till next week, be safe and enjoy the
ride...
- missjeke@gmail.com