Evoque Plus for late 2016

I guess that they make far more money for Jaguar Land Rover (and don't forget the Jaguar end is loosing money still and they have to offer huge discounts on "pre-registered" cars to shift them) whereas the Defender replacement will not be a big money maker, it may be expensive and hightec but it won't sell in anywhere near the volumes of a Grand Evoque. Best year ever of Defender sales was something like 19000 worldwide, that is a tiny number

Can anyone share the link to the article?

Would be an interesting read

I just think LR are in danger of flooding the Range Rover range with so many models, that none will have a clear purpose.

I know the Defenders don't bring in the big bucks, but there is a lot of owners crying out for no nonsense Land Rovers, most of whom are Fl2 owners who are disappointed with their options for a replacement, with some now looking elsewhere.

J, personnally I think LR have hurried the DS out and should have waited until the Ingenium engines are ready. I have heard that LR were not prepared to launch a new car with a new engine in case of mechanical issues blighting the car............. odd then that Jaguar are launching the XE which is a totally new model (and also much more important to Jaguar than DS is to LR) .......... with the only engine option at launch being the Ingenium engines! One thing that has put a lot of people I know off buying a DS is having to take a 7 seats (2 of which are almost unusable by normal people) car when even 5 seats are 3 more than they need.
Reverting to Evoque Plus - if you read back in the posts of this forum there are numerous demands for Evqoue to have a V6 engine and air-suspension - It appears that LR has answered that request - people have to bear in mind that Evoque isn't big enough for either a V6 or air-suspension - both of which are very heavy additions to the car. I am pretty certain that the Evqoue Plus will be like RRS2 and FFRR and be built largely with aluminium so will be considerably lighter and able to take heavy airsuspension units without too much of a hit on emissions/ taxes. Also with a tranfer box only adding 18kg to the weight of an RRS I wonder if a "proper" dual range Evoque might be on the way............. LR has long wanted to produce a Sport Coupe, this might be that car!

I'd certainly be interested in an Evoque Plus or mini-RRS, whatever they decide to market it as. My only gripe about the Evoque is the lack of boot space, so a slightly larger version would be ideal. Not bothered about 7 seats and was pretty unimpressed with the Disco Sport in the flesh, so there may well be a gap in the market for those who find the RRS and FFRR too big (they won't fit in my garage!).

I think to the untrained eye, the Evoque & RRS (and to some extent the FFRR) look very similar. It is clear the design formula is consistent across the range (no pun intended).

Fitting another model in between the Evoque & RRS will confuse even more, but if it drives more sales and better margin then Land Rover will no doubt do it.

I hope we see some model differentiation with the Defender replacement and not something that carries the "design ques" of the rest of the Land Rover models.

cheers

simon

The DC100 designs got a massive thumbs down from traditional Defender owners and especially from Series Land Rover Owners in the USA (who have never had a Defender model exported to them). The main objection was "it oesn't look like a Defender!" Everybody wants a Defender-a-like but it just cannot be done and comply with all the new emissions and pedestrian safety regs that are coming into force soon. DS already has an ugly grey carbunkle on the bonnet that the rest of the range will also get to comply with the pedestrian airbag rules............... Defender HAS to have a lower bonnet, it cannot have the lovely high up bonnet and the vertical grille, to comply with the same pedestrian safety rules so there is no way the replacement can look anything like a Defender from the front or side

^^^ I actually started to like the Dc100 after an initial bad reaction. I am a long time Defender owner, so appreciate its style but know that the replacement will have to be somewhat different. I just hope it has a differentiated style to the Discovery & Range Rover models.

I see that the LR branding guideline state three brand types, Defender, Discovery and Range Rover (with the bonnet letter already changed to reflect that, even on the Defender), so hope we get something distinctive on the Defender replacement.

cheers

simon

Couplands, I too own a Defender - 1996 TDi300 County HT 90 converted to a Station Wagon (but not a CSW as I have the folding bench seating arrangement). I was going to sell it this year and reduce to one car.................. just couldn't bear to part with it (yet) and it is currently having some "surgery" at a local specialist. A new tailgate is being fitted before the 19 year old original falls off on the road, a swingaway spare wheel carrier was also recommended so is being fitted at the same time, it is getting LED headlights to aid night driving and a set of antiroll bars are being fitted (the originals got removed 10 years ago to "assist" offroad wheel articulation) as well as getting its' annual service and MOT.

Mines a 2001 TD5 HT that was built by SV with roll cage, winch snorkel etc and has only done 34k miles, although mainly on green lanes. Like you, I wouldn't want to part with it and enjoy tinkering with it.

Great fun and something that I think any (in)sane person should own..

cheers

simon

Edit: talk about topic creep..! This is a long way from the 2016 Evoque..