India will get its first luxury convertible SUV with Jaguar Land Rover set to launch the Range Rover Evoque Convertible in the country on March 27, 2018. The model made its international debut at the 2015 Los Angeles motor show.
As per details on Jaguar Land Rover’s India website, the model will come powered by JLR's latest 2.0-litre Ingenium petrol that made its India debut on the Velar. The four-cylinder unit puts out 240hp of peak power (250hp in the Velar) and 340Nm of torque and comes mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission that channels power to all-four wheels. The SUV can sprint to 100kph from standstill in 8.1 seconds and go on to a top speed of 217kph.
The Evoque Convertible for India will be available in the fully-loaded HSE Dynamic form and will get features such as adaptive LED headlights, leather seats, navigation and ambient lighting.
The drop-top Evoque gets a reinforced monocoque chassis along with reinforced door panels to make up for the lack of a roof. The fabric convertible roof is electrical and can be operated in around 20 seconds while the vehicle is travelling at speeds of up to 48kph. Land Rover says the roof uses an acoustic inner lining in an effort to reduce road noise and enhance cabin insulation. A wind deflector, offered as an option, reduces air draft from the rear when the roof is down, thereby improving front seat comfort. The SUV additionally comes equipped with a pop-up roll-bar system that deploys if there is a danger of a rollover.
While there is no word on pricing as yet, we expect the Evoque Convertible to cost in the region of Rs 80-85 lakh (estimated, ex-showroom).
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Glenn Noronha
Dhruv Dhaka
