JLR has unveiled the new Range Rover Evoque Convertible prior to its international debut at the Los Angeles motor show 2015. Land Rover had teased its upcoming convertible SUV with images of the prototype being tested on the company’s proving grounds and by installing full-scale wire replicas on the streets in London.

The Evoque Convertible was confirmed to be under development by the company during the Geneva motor show when JLR released images of the SUV testing in an under-construction metro tunnel. The SUV, weighing about 270kg more than its standard hard-top siblings, is capable of raising and lowering its roof in around 20 seconds at speeds of up to 48kph.

The SUV additionally comes equipped with a pop-up roll-bar system that deploys if there is a danger of a rollover.

The interior is on par with the standard facelifted Evoque. According to Evoque program director Danella Bagnall, the Evoque Convertible, unlike other convertibles, offered “generous” space in the
rear, capable of seating adults in comfort.

The Evoque convertible gets a reinforced monocoque chassis along with reinforced door panels to make up for the lack of a roof. Powering the new Evoque Convertible is the 2.0-litre 178bhp Ingenium diesel engine and 2.0-litre 234bhp turbo-petrol motor. The convertible SUV will only be available as a four-wheel-drive model.

The Evoque Convertible will go on sale internationally in 2016 and will be available in the top-level Dynamic and Dynamic HSE trims only.