Motoring: Teaser image of new Evoque & more

WITH the major manufacturers gearing up for the start of the European motor show merry-go-round next month, so the teaser war has started.

This is where the companies tease the media – and the public – with tantalising glimpses of their new models and forthcoming attractions.

The Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March is seen as the first major event on the European calendar so there is always plenty of interest in what might be coming up.

At the 2012 show Jaguar Land Rover wowed the press and public with a cabriolet concept version of its then thrusting young Turk, the Range Rover Evoque. Three years on and it looks like the concept may be about to become a reality.

The Evoque, made at Halewood, Merseyside, has since gone on to be the most successful Land Rover ever produced and a new chapter in its illustrious history is now being writ large on the world stage with the first overseas-manufactured versions rolling off production lines in China.

In a piece of neat symmetry, JLR is set to use this year’s Geneva show to launch its 2016 facelifted Evoque.

JLR is keeping the new model under wraps until the opening of the show on March 3 but it has released this new teaser image to offer global buyers a glimpse of what might be in store.

The feral-looking headlamp signature might be more at home adorning a car made by Land Rover stablemate Jaguar but it does show that JLR is not afraid of change as it looks to maintain the model’s success.

The 2016 model year Range Rover Evoque will be the first Land Rover to feature full LED adaptive headlamps. The technology is intended to give drivers superior illumination in dark conditions by following the curves of the road.

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover design director and chief creative officer, said: “Our challenge has been to enhance Evoque without diluting its iconic design. The design refreshments give it an even greater presence on the road yet retain the emotional appeal that has made it so popular with more than 400,000 consumers around the world.”

The 2016 model year Range Rover Evoque includes a new engine line-up, new safety and convenience features, and interior enhancements all wrapped in the trademark exterior design.

The company has said it will step up the teaser war when further details of the 2016 model range are released next Monday (February 23).

While the company’s line up for its Geneva display isn’t yet known, one model likely to feature heavily is the new Jaguar XE sports saloon. The new car goes on sale this spring and JLR has high hopes it will prove a big success.

To ramp up the car’s star quality it has already secured some celebrity endorsement.

British actor Idris Elba, best known for his work in TV series’ Luther and The Wire plus Hollywood blockbusters such as Thor and Pacific Rim, is staring in a four-part film commissioned by Jaguar showing what the new car is capable of.

The second instalment documents the actor’s journey from London to Berlin in the new Jaguar XE 3.0 Petrol 340PS.

During the episode he takes part in a high-octane test at Spa-Francorchamps Circuit in Belgium with the help of F1 racing driver turned commentator Martin Brundle.
 
The next short film is out tomorrow (Thursday), with the final story coming online from February 22.

VW tees up new Golf R-Line

VOLKSWAGEN is now taking orders for the stylish Golf R-Line, ahead of first deliveries in March. Prices for the perennially popular hatchback start from £24,190 on the road.

The R-Line specification sits above the GT model which includes Discover Navigation, sports suspension (lowered by approximately 10 mm), PreCrash preventive occupant protection as standard equipment.  The R-Line trim adds sporty design cues for an extra £995.

Styling features include R-Line rear spoiler, side skirts and radiator grille, bespoke air intakes, R-Line front bumpers and fog lights, R-Line rear bumper and diffuser, and 17-inch Singapore alloy wheels.

In keeping with the sporty theme, the interior receives stainless steel pedals and front door sills, black lead grey inlays and door trims, Sports Race design front seats with R-Line logo, black rooflining, leather gear knob and gear lever gaiter and R-Line leather multifunction sports steering wheel.

Two engines are available: one petrol and one diesel.  The petrol option is VW’s 1.4-litre TSI engine with Active Cylinder Technology, which can deactivate two of the four cylinders for enhanced economy and returns up to 60.1 mpg on the combined cycle.

Delivering 150 PS between 4,500 and 6,000 rpm, the four-cylinder engine is twinned to a six-speed manual gearbox or an optional seven-speed DSG.  It will reach 62 mph from a standing start in 8.2 seconds and has a top speed of 134 mph.  

The diesel alternative is the popular 2.0-litre TDI with 150 PS which can return up to 68.9 mpg on the combined cycle, with CO2 emissions ranging from 106 to 119 g/km.  A six-speed manual gearbox comes as standard, with a six-speed DSG also available.

Prices for the Golf hatchback range start at £17,175OTR for the entry-level 1.2-litre TSI petrol model.

Hull-based Horizon debuts new ‘glampervan’

FOR the glamping fans amongst us, Hull-based Horizon Multi-Concept Vehicles (MCV) Ltd has launched an all-new version of its popular Mercedes-Benz Vito camper.

Debuting at the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at the NEC Birmingham, Horizon is hoping the new vehicle will prove as popular as its predecessor.

The vehicle, fitted with a bespoke range of deluxe installations, is the first Mercedes Benz New Vito to be introduced to the UK market. It is also the first Mercedes Benz New Vito to be converted into a luxury campervan.

With a slick, streamlined exterior design, including a more pronounced grill and greater dimensions, the New Vito boasts an electronically controlled bench-to-bed facility and elevating roof. The lavish accommodation is designed to cater for up to four adults and one child.

Luxury features include upholstered leather furnishings, Compac Quartz Granite surfaces, and a state-of-the-art two-burner hob.

Horizon has also been canny enough to market the vehicle as an everyday transporter and just as at home on the school or supermarket run as it is travelling to a camping site in the south of France.

Speaking on the launch, Horizon MCV’s Sales Director James Burt said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of our second multi-concept vehicle for the luxury campervan market. This has been a really exciting project which we have been developing ‘under wraps’.

“We are not sure that anybody in the UK even has the new Vito as a panel van let alone as a converted luxury vehicle. We sourced the vehicle in continental Europe and it has been undergoing an incredible transformation in our workshop. We believe that our first-to-market conversion will provide users the ultimate crossover between practical travel and elegant design.”