Range Rover Evoque gets larger touchscreen, hybrid range boost

A new battery chemistry means the P300e PHEV’s official electric-only range has risen from 38 to 39 miles. This translates into a real-world range of up to 30 miles, JLR said. The P300e also has DC rapid-charging capabilities, meaning a top-up takes 30 minutes at a 50kW charge point. Using a 7kW point (such as a home wallbox), the 14.9kWh battery takes around two hours to recharge.

The remaining powertrains – the D165 and D200 diesel engines, plus the P200 and P250 petrol units – are all 48V mild hybrids with automatic gearboxes.

The trim line-up has been simplified to just four levels: S, Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE and Autobiography.

Prices start from £40,080 for a non-hybrid manual D165 model in S trim. This is a £2440 increase compared with the equivalent grade of the outgoing Evoque, and a £6010 rise compared with the previous entry-level model.

JLR has yet to officially confirm when deliveries of the new Evoque will begin, but production will scale up when it can get “confidence of supply”.

Q&A: Geraldine Ingham, managing director, Range Rover

Under JLR’s new corporate structure, each Land Rover model line – Range Rover, Defender and Discovery – is a brand in its own right, standing alongside Jaguar in a ‘House of Brands’.

Autocar caught up with new managing director of Range Rover Geraldine Ingham at a preview event for the updated Evoque.

Previously the director of automotive for Meta and, before that, a marketing director for Volkswagen UK, Ingham joins the brand at a critical phase as it prepares for the launch of the Range Rover EV – its first all-electric car – later this year.

How have you found your first couple of months as MD of Range Rover?

“Amazing. Intense. I'd say there’s a lot going on. You know, [revealing] the Range Rover Sport SV three weeks ago and then the Evoque today – just in terms of launches, the scope of what we have is incredible. And then all the transformation, electrification, the House of Brands. There's lots and lots and lots of stuff going on. So it's super-intense, but very exciting.”

What are your priorities coming into Range Rover?

“It's early days. Two months in, it's really hard to say ‘that's where I'm going’. I'm focusing at the moment on getting around the business, meeting everyone. Understanding what everyone thinks, feels about where we're heading.

“Definitely electrification. I said [in my speech] about the Range Rover fully electric, and I wasn't kidding: genuinely, that was the thing that swayed me 100% to come into the role, because I think that is such a milestone moment for the company and for electrification, generally. To be able to have a Range Rover and drive it fully electric – that big an SUV – is amazing.

“So I think getting that right is key, and getting that launched, and customers understanding, clients understanding, that's really key. So really just kind of getting under the skin of all the products and making my way around the business, but with really an eye on that Range Rover BEV. That's coming pretty quick.”

You spoke quite favourably about the plug-in hybrid offering for the Evoque, but this is a technology the UK government has more recently raised doubts about. How important is it to offer Range Rovers with a variety of powertrains?

“I think listening to our customers and accompanying them on that [electrification] journey is really important. And I think the MLA platform, which Range Rover sits on, is incredible because it's really flat. So you can have hybrid, petrol, diesel and fully electric from the end of next year. 

“I think giving our clients that choice is really key and it depends by region, doesn’t it? China's storming ahead, although more of the smaller cars, but they're storming ahead. I was in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago, and they were saying that, interestingly, there is a push towards electrification even in Saudi, but they're focusing it on one city. Riyadh. For example, they have a target to hit: 30% electric mix by 2030. So you need to take into account different regional directives, what the different clients want. So as I say, with the MLA platform, it's great, because actually, we can respond to demand.”