We still have six months to wait until the Land Rover lifts the wraps off the new Range Rover Evoque, but thanks to new spy photos we've been given an updated preview of the new compact SUV before its debut. Launched back in 2011, the Evoque is Land Rover's best-selling SUV by a huge margin, so the second-generation model will have a lot to live up to. Spotted at the Nurburburgring being put through its paces, the new Evoque takes its styling cues from the handsome Velar.
As such, you can guarantee the new Evoque will be a huge seller – particularly when compared to its more conservative-looking German rivals like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. The prototype spotted at the 'Ring is heavily camouflaged, but you can still spot its updated front fascia, slender grille and restyled headlights. It's looking like an evolutionary update at this stage, but then Land Rover doesn't want to mess with a successful formula. That said, the new-generation Evoque will have a longer wheelbase and ride on a modified version of the current D8 platform to create extra cabin space and possibly leave room for an even smaller sibling to join the lineup.
This might also explain why there won't be a three-door version of the new Evoque in the US, which just leaves the five-door version and the convertible. According to Autocar, the new Range Rover Evoque will launch with new Ingenium four-cylinder units connected to a nine-speed ZF automatic transmission, with outputs ranging from 148 hp to 237 hp for the diesels and from 237 to 296 hp for the gasoline engines. Entry-level versions of the Evoque will feature a front-wheel-drive layout, while AWD will be included as standard in the more expensive models. Land Rover is also currently developing a mild-hybrid powertrain.
The new Evoque could be the first Land Rover model to utilize the new hybrid powertrain, which will reportedly combine a three-cylinder 1.5-liter Ingenium engine with a small electric motor powered by a 48V battery, and the new Evoque could be the first model to utilize it. Don't expect to see it any time soon however, as the powertrain will require extensive changes to the car's underpinnings and won't be ready to launch until the early part of the next decade at the earliest. The non-hybrid Evoque is expected to debut at the Paris Motor Show in October, however, with deliveries starting in 2019.
