Land Rover announced today that the all-new 2012 Range Rover Evoque has been named 2012 Sport/Utility of the Year by Motor Trend.
“It is a significant achievement for the Range Rover Evoque to be deemed the best new SUV on the market by Motor Trend, one of the pre-eminent brands in automotive publishing,” said Andy Goss, President, Jaguar Land Rover North America. ”Our entire UK team, responsible for the engineering, design and build of this cutting edge luxury vehicle, was invaluable in the success of this model. We know our customers in the United States will share our excitement over this award for the newest addition to the Land Rover family.”
The 2012 Range Rover Evoque is the smallest, lightest, most fuel efficient Range Rover ever produced. The vehicle stays true to the core values of Range Rover, providing premium levels of craftsmanship, luxury, performance and Land Rover multi-terrain capability while embodied in a more compact package. The Range Rover Evoque also sends a message that the company is serious about sustainability and determined to deliver vehicles that are both relevant and highly desirable.
“The Range Rover Evoque is a bold move into the fast-growing compact luxury SUV sector,” said Angus MacKenzie, Editor-in-Chief, Motor Trend. ”Refined and capable both on and off the road, it artfully combines traditional Range Rover values with stunning state-of-the-moment design and impressive efficiency. The Evoque is a worthy winner of our award, and I have no doubt it will be a worldwide hit for Land Rover.”
The Range Rover Evoque will be available in two versions: a coupe and a five-door, with starting prices of $44,995 and$43,995, respectively. The two versions are identical in overall length and width; however, the five-door has a 1.18 inch higher roofline. Every Range Rover Evoque destined for the United States will be equipped with all-wheel-drive and will feature a 240-horsepower, turbocharged, direct fuel injected, four-cylinder engine coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Every year, the Motor Trend editorial staff meticulously selects a field of worthy contenders for its Sport/Utility of the Year Award. Contenders are put through Motor Trend’s standard battery of testing, a rigorous series of tests that measure performance under controlled circumstances and allow the editors to get an idea the real-world driving behavior of each of the vehicles. Candidates for the award are then evaluated under six criteria – advancement in design, engineering excellence, efficiency, safety, value, and performance of intended function – to determine the one model that performs best for its intended purpose and to Motor Trend’s highest standards.
October 25, 2011
Land Rover