In photos: Range Rover expanding lineup with a convertible SUV

globe drive

Published November 10, 2015

The prolonged tease is finally over: Land Rover has officially revealed the Range Rover Evoque ragtop SUV in London – a car it is calling the “world’s most capable all-season convertible.” The SUV is based on the two-door Evoque Coupe, but with a roof that folds in behind the rear seats and below the beltline. Aluminum roll bars hidden in the rear bulkhead can deploy if a rollover is sensed. Trunk space is a mere 8.9 cubic feet, but for skiers there is a pass-through between the rear seats. It will come with a 240-horsepower 2.0-litre engine mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission and can go from 0-100 km/h in 7.8 seconds. “[It] is a symbol of refinement, luxury and creative design,” Land Rover’s design director and chief creative officer, Gerry McGovern, said in a statement. “The Evoque’s elegant design proportions lend themselves to the creation of a convertible.” Land Rover showed the ragtop Evoque at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show and, in June of this year, released a video showing the vehicle completing tests at the Eastnor Castle estate in Britain. When the Evoque first hit the market four years ago, it was aimed at a demographic that appreciates design. Victoria Beckham – Posh Spice – was commissioned to help design a special edition and in 2012, it was voted Women’s Top World Luxury Car of the Year. While Land Rover claims this vehicle to be the first in a new niche category, it is far from being the first droptop SUV. Jeep makes a few that sell well and Nissan made a convertible Murano, which is hardly ever seen on the street. The Evoque is the brand’s top-selling model, so there is hope for the convertible. But the big question is: Who is going to buy a $50,000 (U.S.) convertible SUV? The SUV will hit showrooms in the middle of 2016.

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