It’s very Evoque-ative
There I was, rubbing shoulders with South Africa’s minor celebrities (not that I would’ve recognised any, even if they had snatched the last deep-fried prawn from under my nose) at the official local unveiling of the Range Rover Evoque, the next big thing in small 4x4s. Actually I did recognise one of the shlebs - Survivor runner-up Letshego Moshoeu - but only because Monday is Survivor night in the Burford household and also because I know her rally driver boyfriend Gugu Zulu quite well.
They’d make a perfect pair in an Evoque (pronounced evoke): they’re young, beautiful - she’s petite and perfectly-formed while he is tall and broad-shouldered - and dressed like they’ve just stepped out of a fashion shoot. They smile broadly, exposing perfect teeth. The Evoque is a DINK kind of car and has hardly any rear legroom but represents an exciting new entry point to the Range Rover brand. It is what you might buy when you outgrow your MINI Cooper S though at more than half a bar in its most basic form, the Evoque is hardly entry-level pricewise.
When the wraps came off it, the Blackberrys and iPhones were out, and within seconds my buddy Chad Wentzel of Sportech fame was tweeting the pictures to those who follow him on Twitter. I stood and admired it all from a polite distance, a deep-fried prawn in one hand, a glass of Moet in the other. Just as well I don’t own a Blackberry or iPhone, otherwise I would’ve needed a third arm…
Nevertheless, from where I was standing it was obvious that the Evoque is a seriously exciting piece of kit; with a strong Range Rover identity in its visage, huge wheels, and an unusual slope to its roofline. That doesn’t bode well for rear headroom, but then, with so little legroom in the back the lack of headroom won’t be a problem. Otherwise the interior is brilliant, with a warmth and plushness which made me want to climb in, but once again the lack of a third hand with which to open the driver’s door deterred me. The two cars on show - one black, one ruby red metallic - were pre-production units but looked highly desirable inside and out nonetheless.
The Evoque shares some underpinnings with the Land Rover Freelander but is smaller and lighter. Local versions will be 4x4 though it is also available in a front-drive version in some markets. Two-wheel-drive for Range Rover? Yep…it’s a sign of the times.
The car will make a more public debut at the Johannesburg International Motor Show in October, and will be showrooms from November 1. Hopefully I’ll also crack the nod for the proper press launch around that time, so that I can bring you a proper impression of what it is like from behind the leather-wrapped steering wheel. And I promise to keep both hands on the wheel, saving the deep-fried prawns and French champagne for later.
