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Land Rover is to add fuel-saving plug-in and mild hybrid power trains to the new-generation Range Rover Evoque recently unveiled.
The Evoque has been a success since it was introduced in 2010 with just over 772,096 units built to date. Last year the car was Jaguar Land Rover’s No. 2 seller after the Discovery Sport with global sales of more than 100,000.
The Evoque “transformed the world of compact SUVs on its debut and the new model is set to continue that remarkable journey,” Land Rover Chief Designer Gerry McGovern said at the unveiling.
According to A News, the Evoque now has a smoother exterior look with integrated door-handles that echoes the styling of the larger Range Rover Velar.
Land Rover has dropped the Evoque’s three-door version after demand fell to about 3 percent of total volume.
The Evoque will be offered in Europe with three diesel and three gasoline four-cylinder 2.0-liter engine options.
The Evoque joins the Range Rover Sport and Range Rover in offering plug-in hybrid options. Land Rover will add a 300-volt plug-in hybrid will toward the end of next year. It will have an electric motor mated to a new three-cylinder gasoline engine that will reduce CO2 emissions to below 45 grams per km, the company said.
The Evoque’s all-wheel drive versions will be available with a 48-volt mild-hybrid that adds a belt-driven starter-generator to capture energy lost in braking and add electric assistance under acceleration.
The engine will also shut off below speeds of 17 kph (11 mph) to save fuel and reduce CO2 emissions. The most fuel efficient mild-hybrid diesel version has CO2 emissions of 149 g/km, Land Rover said.
Electrification is key to reducing JLR’s CO2 levels below the agreed 135 g/km average needed to avoid fines when the European Union introduce tougher CO2 emissions limits for new vehicles in 2020/21.
JLR’s average European emissions are currently at 178 g/km, the company said earlier this year. JLR said last year every new model will come with electrified options from 2020 onwards.
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