The current Range Rover Evoque is a very stylish SUV, but it is starting to look dated after its initial launch back in 2011. Before an all-new model is revealed for 2019, we looked at five things we'd like to see improved on the next Evoque. One of our suggestions was to improve fuel economy and power figures by adding some form of electrification or a diesel engine. It seems our suggestions may have been heeded, because Autocar has recently spotted an Evoque test mule using a 2.0-liter diesel hybrid drivetrain.

According to an online database, a total of six test mules have been registered using this new drivetrain. A mild-hybrid drivetrain does make sense, as Jaguar Land Rover has plans to electrify all of its models by 2020. The Evoque is already set to introduce a new 1.5-liter three-cylinder plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Unlike the gas hybrid, the diesel version will use a 48V mild hybrid system. This new drivetrain will use a 2.0-liter diesel engine combined with a 5kW crank-integrated electric motor with a disconnect clutch. The hybrid motor will be wedged between the engine and the nine-speed transmission.

Land Rover is one of the few luxury brands that has continued to sell diesel models in the US, so it will be interesting to see if this new mild-hybrid drivetrain will make it to the US. Hybrid models in the US have typically relied on a gas engine, so it would be interesting to see one with a diesel powertrain. No matter what engines we end up getting in the US, the second generation Range Rover Evoque is shaping up to be a huge improvement over the original.