2012 Range Rover Evoque…Urban Luxury
When the media campaign started for the latest offspring to the Range Rover clan, I must admit I envied the folks in The Big Apple who were able to get that glimpse of four-wheeled perfection. The Time Square “unveiling” of the Evoque mirrored the same reaction I experienced when I parked it in my driveway. “Girl, that is so you!” is what my neighbor proclaimed and she was so right. The 2012 North American Truck of the Year is a definite head turner with its chiseled profile, luxurious persona and high-end accouterments.
The Evoque is a visually stunning SUV. It’s the perfect blend of the Range Rover’s upper crust philosophy and urban swag. I dare say that most Americans (particularly Angelinos) who purchase Range Rovers aren’t known for embracing the rough and tumble lifestyle, but they sure as hell like looking good in whatever activity they choose. The front black grille of the Evoque gives a wink to and falls in line with Range Rover’s iconic branding as it sits nestled between automatic halogen projector headlights. Cool design cues like side vents, mirror caps and a spoiler extension scream refinement. The razor sharp lines that slope from the front to the rear fascias of the Evoque…evoke (excuse the pun) a sense of style and elegance that rival its counterparts. It’s chiseled and strong profile can give Hollywood’s greatest leading man a run for his money.
While the ability to scale steep country sides and rugged terrains is embedded in the Evoque’s DNA, the most I would experience would be the pothole-laden streets of urban Los Angeles, the winding back roads of Malibu and the steep ascending boulevards that spill into West Hollywood. By no means is the Evoque a shrinking violet in the shadow of its namesake. The 2.0 liter engine pushing out 240 ponies and 250 of torque via a 4 cylinder Aluminum Turbocharged High Direct Fuel Injection engine w/Twin Variable Valve Timing, paired with a 6-Speed Automatic Transmission w/ Paddle shifters. The 18/28 city and highway gas mileage is pretty fly in this age of the soaring price of petro market. But if I were to get my Indiana Jones adventure on, I could seamlessly own the landscape with the Terrain Response System that offers dynamic driving in General, Snow, Mud and Sand conditions.
Kicking up the swag of the quotient of the Evoque is the premium Pure Plus Package. The leather features on the steering wheel and perforated seats, aluminum accents throughout the cabin, as well the tips of the exhaust and skids plates bring about a more than stylish vibe while cruising around the city. The Evoque could have easily opted for a traditional gear shift, but instead the designers chose to implement the uber cool dial mechanism. The entertainment features of the Evoque add to an already exhilarating driving experience. The 835- Watt, 17 speakers Meridian sound system controlled through an 8-inch high-resolution color touch screen display bangs out concert-quality sound. The dual 8-inch video displays embedded in the headrests give back seat passengers crisp visuals and superb sound with the DVD player and Whitefire wireless headphones.
There are so many cool features of the Evoque that any lover of luxury will enjoy the ride. One of the coolest was one that I literally stumbled upon one evening. Puddle lights aren’t a new feature, but I have NEVER seen an image of the vehicle shine down to the ground illuminating my path…now that’s gangster!
MSRP $58,195 for more info on the Evoque click here.
