A Minor Change After Five Years

Jaguar Land Rover, the global leader in luxury SUVs, released official photos and details of its highly popular "Range Rover Evoque" 2016 model on February 23rd. This is the first major minor change for the model, approximately five years after its debut.

While the stylish exterior, reminiscent of the "LRX" concept car that was the biggest factor in the Evoque's great success, may not appear drastically different at first glance in the 2016 model, its front fascia has been updated with the latest design.

The most significant feature, as hinted by the teaser photos released by the manufacturer about a week prior to this announcement, is the adoption of full LED adaptive headlamps, a first for Land Rover. According to Land Rover, this enhances nighttime visibility, improves cornering safety, and allows for a more distinctive headlamp design.

Additionally, the bumper, which incorporates similarly styled LED fog lamps, has been redesigned for a more powerful look. The radiator grille has also been slightly enlarged and refreshed with a hexagonal motif.

A New Engine to Watch

Meanwhile, the interior, which emphasizes the Range Rover's distinct character, features newly designed seats and door trims. The selection of leather and fabric materials has been expanded, and the use of soft-touch materials in areas frequently touched by the driver has been increased to further enhance perceived quality. Furthermore, a new infotainment system centered around a new 8-inch monitor has been introduced.

A significant mechanical update for the 2016 model is the introduction of a new power unit. Although official import plans for the Japanese market have not yet been announced, the diesel仕様, which is expected to be mainstream in Europe, will be equipped with Jaguar Land Rover's new generation "Ingenium TD4" engine.



Jaguar's Promising New Star, "XE" already features this turbo diesel, which has an aluminum alloy cylinder head and block. As a result, it is approximately 20-30kg lighter than the previous generation engine. It will be available in two versions, with 150ps and 180ps. The more eco-conscious 150ps version claims excellent environmental performance, achieving 23.8 km/L in the European combined cycle and emitting 109g/km of CO2.

The gasoline version, which is undoubtedly destined for the Japanese market, will be the same "Si4" 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine as the previous Evoque. It produces 240ps, achieving 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 217km/h. Fuel consumption is rated at 12.8 km/L with CO2 emissions of 181g/km.

Since its official release in 2011, the Range Rover Evoque has been a hit, with over 400,000 units produced cumulatively. It was known for having a substantial backlog of orders at launch. Will this minor change, the first in five years, add even more appeal?

The full details will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March.