What's the news?
SUVs went through a period of demonization as the green brigade's campaign gathered force a few years back, but in recent times these all-wheel drive vehicles have become crucial to any manufacturer's hopes of global sales success. As a result, Land Rover has responded to the glut of high-performance small SUVs - think Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG and Porsche Macan - and given us a 285hp Range Rover Evoque.
Exterior
This high-powered Evoque is offered in Autobiography Dynamic trim, which means it is sharp enough on the outside for something packing nearly 300hp. Sporty body styling couples with a new grille design, a revised lower front valance, 'jewel-like' front and rear lights and forged alloy wheels a full 20 inches in diameter. There'll be tasteful Autobiography badging dotted about the Evoque's chunky body and the chance to finish it in a new metallic paint called Phoenix Orange - the arresting shade you can see in the sole picture released so far.
Interior
We know you're probably itching to read about all the mechanical upgrades needed for this hot baby RR, but be patient - surely you want to hear about the infotainment upgrades inside first? LR is claiming a world-first with its 'InControl' apps in-car connection technology. It allows owners to download the programme to their smartphone and then connect it to the Evoque via the USB port. Et voilą - all functionality of the phone is now on the car's touchscreen, with new content available every time the apps update. You're then promised iPhone or Android levels of convenience and familiarity for your vehicle.
On to more pragmatic stuff and there are six colours to choose from for your luxury leather interior, but you can opt up to a 'dynamic plus' finish with either sports or premium climate seats and a choice of four colours. Autobiography logos are both embossed into the headrests and feature on illuminated sill plates for all interior trims.
Mechanicals
It's a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet, which leaps 45hp and 60Nm over the previously most-powerful Evoque Si4 to headline figures of 285hp and 400Nm. This grunt is put to the active driveline all-wheel drive system. That's optional on other Evoques, standard on this new model and it is basically a part-time set-up that activates only when you absolutely need all four wheels powered - through a nine-speed ZF transmission, which sounds like about two ratios too many to us.
LR claims the steering has been specifically tuned for this faster Evoque, as well as saying it has upgraded the car's suspension geometry, given it firmer spring rates and recalibrated its adaptive dampers. We're told this makes it more agile and keener to turn in, without sacrificing ride comfort. Further dynamic assistance is provided by Torque Vectoring by Braking (TVB), designed to quell understeer, and the front brake discs have been enlarged to 350mm to cope with all of this extra ability.
Anything else?
Land Rover has sold more than 270,000 Evoques around the world since it went on sale in 2011, which is a phenomenal achievement, but a proper performance version was always absent in the line-up. The Autobiography Dynamic should be good to drive, but, as yet, we don't know what it will cost. Estimates suggest more than £50,000, and considering we've just driven the aforementioned Mercedes GLA 45 AMG, which has 360hp and should be at least £5,000 less, the Evoque could be in for a tough fight.
Matt Robinson - 24 Feb 2014
