As questionable as this move might be in some eyes, we'd heard rumours that it was on the way and now Land Rover has officially confirmed it - this Range Rover Evoque Convertible is the world's 'first luxury compact SUV open-top'. While some will detest it on sight, you know fine well it'll sell in its droves nonetheless
Exterior
Up to the base of the window line and until you get to the windscreen header rail, it's basically just a three-door Evoque. Then we come to the fabric roof. It folds away in a Z-section mechanism to sit discreetly behind the cabin, leaving a flat shoulder-line in profile when driving al fresco - something the Land Rover designers should be commended for. It's a little less convincing on the looks front with the hood up, yet the top folds down in just 18 seconds (and back up in 21 seconds) at speeds of up to 50km/h, so it's easy enough to get the Evoque looking its best.
Range Rover claims that with the roof closed, the interior comfort is 'on a par with the five-door Evoque', thanks to a layer of acoustic insulation in the Convertible's soft-top. That neat stowage also doesn't eat into the Evoque's 251-litre boot, although - naturally - you access the cargo area in a different manner to the hard-topped models, with the tailgate hinging up from the underneath the rear spoiler. In the unlikely event of a rollover, two hidden aluminium roll-over bars pop out of the body in just 90 milliseconds to protect the occupants. A final little factoid for you: the fabric roof on the Range Rover Evoque Convertible is the longest and widest currently fitted to any vehicle on sale today.
Interior
The Range Rover Evoque Convertible is a strict four-seater, as the rear bench is slightly pinched and has a pair of distinct chairs as a result. On the top models there's a ski hatch included (presumably targeted right at the affluent prospective buyer of this car, people who almost certainly ski from time to time) and the new InContol Touch Pro infotainment system - with an upgraded, high-res 10.2-inch touchscreen - is loaded into the Evoque Convertible, incorporating smartphone integration, 3G connectivity and a premium sound system.
Irish specs have yet to be confirmed but from what we know, we're expecting even the base trim Evoques to come with leather upholstery, fully electrically adjustable front seats, 20-inch alloys, a rear-view camera, a heated windscreen and Xenon headlamps, among more. Further bits of kit will include keyless entry, a Meridian stereo, full park assist and an array of electronic driver safety systems.
Mechanicals
As befits something which is clearly designed more for Californian/Mediterranean boulevard posing rather than slogging round the M50 on a drizzly November night, there's no manual option on the Evoque Convertible - the two launch engines come with the nine-speed automatic gearbox, and four-wheel drive, as standard, allowing for a relaxed driving style.
So, all you can do is choose between the 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel or the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol. The TD4 uses the Ingenium in a trim seen in a few Jaguars so far, churning out 180hp at 4,000rpm and 430Nm from just 1,750rpm. At 1,967kg, this thing's no featherweight, so 0-100km/h takes 10.3 seconds and the top speed is 195km/h, with a combined consumption of 5.7 litres/100km (49.6mpg) and 149g/km. The petrol improves performance somewhat, its 240hp at 5,800rpm and 340Nm (also available from just 1,750rpm) resulting in a 0-100km/h time of 8.6 seconds and a 209km/h top speed; it's also ever so marginally lighter, at 1,936kg. Of course, you pay for this improved acceleration at the pumps, as the Si4 model hits just 8.6 litres/100km (32.9mpg) and emits 201g/km CO2.
Nevertheless, despite its obvious 'must-have' status with urbanites, the Evoque Convertible is still a Range Rover at its core and the company claims it is just as capable off-road as any other Evoque. It has the Terrain Response system, Wade Sensing and the new All-Terrain Progress Control to get it over and through the rough stuff, while either the TD4 or the Si4 can tow 1.5 tonnes of braked trailer.
Anything else?
The SUV market continues to grow, so this sort of diversification is probably no more offensive - or surprising - than the 'coupé' SUVs which have recently come to light. The Evoque Convertible is the fifth model in the Range Rover family and Gerry McGovern, Land Rover's design director and chief creative officer, said: "Range Rover Evoque Convertible is a vehicle for all seasons. Its uniquely distinctive design and world-class engineering adds another dimension to the Range Rover family, further enhancing its desirability and appeal."
No word on Irish prices as yet but the Range Rover Evoque Convertible will go on sale from spring 2016 in 170 global markets.