The plug is now the destiny of all cars and the turn has also come for the Range Rover Evoque which, in addition to the plug-in hybrid version, presents a revised range and other innovations concerning connectivity and comfort.
Not even a comma to report instead for the style, certainly one of the strengths of the small Range that in 2011 made the British brand make a big leap, bringing elements still present on the other models and enhancing the sales numbers. Unmistakable personality that is also found unchanged on the rechargeable version, recognizable by the P300e writing and by the additional refill flap positioned symmetrically with respect to the one reserved by the petrol filler.
But this is not the only news. The air conditioning system is now equipped with an ionizer and a filter that increase the quality of the breathed air and keep allergens and PM2.5 away. To help visibility, in addition to the virtual mirror and the 4 perimeter cameras, there is now also the Clear Sight, the system that allows you to see under the car, useful for off-road use. A significant step forward was also made by the new Pivi and Pivi Pro infotelematic systems. They are in fact equipped with a powerful Snapdragon processor and a double modem: one for online services and the other dedicated to over-the-air updating of the system. The 10 ”panoramic screen has an arched surface and excellent definition that allows for an answer to any type of solicitation.
It should be noted that, in addition to Android Auto and Apple Carplay, there is also Baidu Carlife.
The logic of the screens has also been improved. Different logic and arrangement also for the steering wheel controls, now positioned in the junction area between the crown and the spokes and no longer on the steering column. Nothing new is reported for the safety equipment that allowed the Evoque to earn the 5 EuroNCAP stars in 2009. The instrumentation has received detailed adaptations, such as the energy scale superimposed on that of the rev counter, while on the “touch” panel positioned on the lower part of the console, next to the controls for air conditioning and Terrain Response, there are those dedicated to managing the hybrid part: EV, Hybrid and Save.
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The thermal part of the system is a 3-cylinder 1.5 from the Ingenium family that delivers 200 hp and is connected to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The permanent magnet synchronous motor integrated with the fixed ratio transmission and the differential is dedicated to the rear wheels. Never before in a Land Rover has such a low-split engine and a shaftless all-wheel drive system been seen. The system delivers a total of 309 hp and 540 Nm making it the most powerful Evoque, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in 6.4 seconds and a top speed of 213 km / h. The declared consumption is 2 liters / 100 km equal to 44 g / km of CO2 with the possibility of driving electrically up to 135 km / h.
The autonomy is 55 km thanks to the 15 kWh battery that can be recharged up to 7 kW in alternating current and also in continuous up to 32 kWh. The positioning under the floor made it possible not to affect the habitability, the volume of the luggage (472-1,156 liters) and the capacity of the tank, from 57 liters. The weight has increased by over 200 kg compared to the 2-liter 300 hp version with all-wheel drive and automatic transmission, but the masses are better distributed on the two axles and the center of gravity is 6% lower. To guarantee all-wheel drive in all conditions, the system takes energy for the rear engine directly from the front one through the motor / alternator which has been upgraded.
On the road, the plug-in hybrid Evoque confirms its fundamental characteristics: pleasant driving and excellent comfort. The suspension absorbs bumps well and the car is very quiet. The 3-cylinder, when switched on, is always well muffled and, by pulling the gears, accompanies its determination with a sporty sound. But the real protagonist is the electric motor that always provides a nice response and, if teased on the tightest curves, gives the Evoque an almost sports car flavor, but always in a duly controlled way by the electronics. To enter drive mode S, you need to move the shift lever to the left and then push it forwards and backwards if you want to use sequential selection. You can feel the deceleration for energy recovery, but it is always progressive and never invasive, moreover the braking is powerful and well modulated. Balanced road behavior, with a measured roll and precise steering, even if a little lively in the return.