The long-anticipated and frequently spied Range Rover Evoque Convertible is now out in the open, revealed in London this week ahead of a mid-2016 market launch.
An Australian debut for the topless Evoque has also been confirmed for sometime around the middle of next year, although specific features and pricing for our market are still to be revealed.
Billed as “the world’s most capable all-season convertible”, the new ragtop small SUV joins its hardtop five- and three-door siblings in the newly refreshed 2016 Evoque range. (See our review of the revised Evoque here.)
“The Evoque’s elegant design proportions lend themselves to the creation of a Convertible, and it’s fitting to reveal the vehicle against the backdrop of one of the world’s leading centres for art and design education here in the creative hub of London,” Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern said.
Full details on the new model are still to be revealed, although Land Rover promises a comfortable four-seat interior and a “proper” boot with a ski hatch through the centre of the second row.
The Evoque Convertible’s production capacity is likewise still to be confirmed. Reports have suggested the new variant will only be produced in limited numbers, but Land Rover has yet to offer any word. It seems likely, however, that the company will work to meet demand.
First revealed as a concept way back in 2012, around a year after the regular model hit the market, the Evoque Convertible was at last confirmed for production earlier this year.
The decision is no surprise: SUVs continue to be a growing force in the global market, and the Evoque is Land Rover’s best-selling model with half-a-million examples sold to date.
The carmaker is likely betting that the combination of sharp looks, SUV proportions and open-air motoring is going have plenty of appeal with buyers.
If it does well, there’s every chance the Evoque Convertible will be followed by rival offerings in the near future.
Watch for details on the new convertible SUV’s Australian launch to land soon.
MORE: Evoque Convertible concept revealed
MORE: Evoque Convertible confirmed for production
MORE: Land Rover Australia locks in Evoque Convertible
