Range Rover Evoque Convertible 2016 revealed

Land Rover has unveiled a convertible version of its biggest-selling Range Rover model, the Evoque, with the new model expected to add 10% to a production volume that currently runs at 130,000 units a year.

The Evoque Convertible will go on sale internationally from 2016, with prices starting at £47,500 (Rs 46.75 lakh). The new model fulfils a promise made at the 2012 Geneva show, where a convertible concept was first unveiled. “We showed the Geneva concept to test the reaction of buyers and critics,” said design boss Gerry McGovern. “We viewed the model as an obvious progression, although not everyone saw it that way. But the overall reaction of the market has been very good.”

The Evoque Convertible will be offered only in higher Dynamic and Dynamic HSE trim levels, powered by either the new 178bhp 2.0-litre TD4 Ingenium diesel or the 237bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre Si4 petrol engine.

The Evoque Convertible weighs around 270kg more than its fixed-head siblings. This is due to the extra bracing needed to maintain chassis rigidity, plus the mass of the powered fabric hood mechanism (which can open or close in 21 seconds at speeds of up to 30mph) and a pop-up roll bar system that deploys if the car is in danger of inverting itself in an accident.

“You can’t just cut the roof off and be done with it,” said McGovern. “It takes a lot of work to get the car to a good standard of stiffness while maintaining proper package space. There were some design and engineering challenges in that.”

McGovern said the car’s  proportions are “quite different” from those of most other drop-tops, because most convertibles’ body lines are parallel to the road, whereas the Evoque’s have a strong upward rake to the rear.

Evoque programme director Danella Bagnall said the Evoque Convertible has “substantial” reinforcement to the monocoque chassis structure near the base of the A-pillars and C-pillars, plus reinforcement of the doors to compensate for the absence of a doorframe.

Bagnall is especially pleased with the “generous” rear passenger space, which, unlike most sports car-based convertibles, affords proper space for a pair of adults. The car’s high sides protect occupants against top-down buffeting and add a sense of security, she said.

All Evoque Convertibles come with four-wheel drive and have a high level of off-road capability, according to Land Rover off-road capability engineer Chris Edwards. “People were nervous about how this model would fare, and you can understand why,” he said. “When the first prototypes came out, we were pretty careful with them. We did some gentle routes at Eastnor Castle, where we test all our prototypes off road, but that didn’t tell us much about how the car could perform. We had to up the ante quite a lot to find the Convertible’s limits.”