November Top Gear magazine

A brilliant spread about taking their Dynamic 5 Door off the LRE and out onto some seriously serious trails of the Atholl Estates - not the routes usually used by LRE Dunkeld, there were no tracks where TG went, just mud and heather and buried rocks. Guess what? They broke it!

Not seriously, they didn't remove the Dynamic's removable bits so managed to pull off the rear trim between the exhausts and squash the front bumper taking out the surround cams. They had taken the precaution of fitting some seriously aggressive mud terrain tyres (will have to find out which brand as they look very very macho!) and one of the experimental Mantec sump guards. It also helped that they had LR's offroad driving wizard Roger Crowthorne riding shotgun. Yes they needed a couple of "assists" from the accompanying tricked up V8 powered Defender 90 that was with them. It got out otherwise unscathed - there are some seriousy deep scratches on the sumpguard though and it was the 8mm Aluminum one........
TG's verdict " It might not be as capable off road as a Defender, but it's not supposed to be. It might have showy bits of plastic that need some modification, and it might not be the car you'd use for a hardcore expedition. But for a car so brilliant on road, the extent of Evoque's ability off road is quite astounding. Looking back down the glen (they were on the summits around Glen Bruar), you see the vastness, the roads we didn't use, and have to wonder what it takes to be a proper Land Rover because from where I'm sitting, this feels like it!"

Good on yer TG, now go try it in an X3/ Q3! If you want to read this in WH Smith unfortunately you can't as this issue is in a cellophane wrapped pack with a James May guide to expensive wrist watches . I'll try to scan it if anybody wants a copy of this item.

I'm sure there are some on here well versed in removing magazines from their cellophane wrap to take a gander in the shop without having to pay for it .... they're just not normally car mags!

CJ I think even the "experts" might struggle with this one, I had to use scissors to get into my copy!
I would like to think that TG may have filmed this expedition for the show, but I doubt it as the item was written by Tom Ford and not one of the presenters which is a pity as they set out to prove to themselves that the Evoque isn't a "girlie" car and is a proper Landie.
Better watch the used car listings for OY12 OUB when it gets returned to LR's press garage, it will need to have it's OG paintwork touched up a fair bit, at least they enjoyed putting the scratches there in the first place.
AND, before anybody asks the answer is NO, I have a Defender to take into that kind of wild country.......................

I'd love to have a scan of it if you find the time.

Also explains why LRE Centres use Prestige rather than Dynamic as it gives you more ground clearance and better approach and departure angles.

(11-10-2012 06:28pm)Stadt Panzer Wrote:  I'd love to have a scan of it if you find the time.

+1

I agree Tim. I can't help wondering now if, for the sake of balance, TG could be persuaded to do the same with a Q3 and the X1?

I can't help but think that the supposed 'competition' just does not have the DNA to work as well as an LRE off the black, smooth stuff.

Should we petition Top Gear to repeat the test with Qashqai, Q3, X1, CRV etc etc just to show how useless they really are when it comes to big boy's tough stuff?

+1 there Tim.

Absolutely!

I have read the article now, and can't help but look at my LRE in a whole new light. Definitely got an adventurous streak has my motor!