A new four-wheel drive system and ZF’s nine-speed automatic gearbox will be fitted to a revised version of Land Rover’s Range Rover Evoque. The updated vehicle will have its global debut at September’s Frankfurt motor show.
What Land Rover is calling the 2014 model year Range Rover Evoque is claimed to have 11.4 percent better fuel consumption and CO2 emissions that have been reduced by up to 9.5 percent.
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First shown in the Evoque at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the ZF-9HP automatic transmission is said to deliver improved economy, reduced emissions and enhanced performance. Jeep’s new Cherokee is the only other SUV to use this new gearbox. Another Chrysler Group model, the Dodge Dart, will also soon be available with a ZF nine-speed automatic.
Active Driveline, one other new option, is claimed by Land Rover to be “the world’s first ‘on demand’ four-wheel drive system which enhances agility and improves fuel efficiency by operating in front-wheel drive only during steady-state driving at speeds above 22mph”.
The new system, which will initially be available just for Si4 four-cylinder petrol variants, monitors vehicle dynamics and automatically reconnects four-wheel drive (within 300 milliseconds) when needed. Active Driveline also features Active Torque Biasing with electronic-Diff (e-Diff) technology to distribute torque between the rear wheels.
Another new feature, Torque Vectoring by Braking, available for both petrol and diesel engines, is designed to counteract understeer. It features in both the Active Driveline and the Evoque’s standard four-wheel drive system.
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By GlobalDataOther new technology for the updated model include Park Exit (drives the car out of a parallel parking space), Perpendicular Park (positions the car centrally in a space), Closing Vehicle Sensing and Reverse Traffic Detection (warns the driver of oncoming vehicles), Lane Departure Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition and Wade Sensing.
Land Rover’s InControl connected car system, a further new option, incorporates two new features – InControl Remote and InControl Secure. The first of these allows vehicle occupants to trigger an SOS Emergency Call which automatically informs the emergency services of the vehicle’s position in the event of an accident. This is done via a button concealed behind a flap in the overhead console (to avoid accidental triggering). A second button connects to Land Rover Assistance should there be a need for technical assistance.
As for InControl Secure, this tracks the vehicle in the event it has been stolen, raising a silent alarm at a secure operating centre. Evoques fitted with this system are compliant with the Thatcham Category 6 standard.
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.
The Evoque continues to be offered with the choice of 150PS and 190PS 2.2 diesel and 240PS 2.0-litre petrol engines (depending on market). Combined fuel consumption for the 2014 range has been improved to a best figure of 57.6 mpg, with CO2 emissions starting from as low as 129 g/km.
Author: Glenn Brooks
