Range Rover Evoque 2011 News

Volvo, Subaru, Land Rover, Citroen and GM have issued safety recalls for some vehicles due to defective manufacturing issues.

Hundreds of new and updated cars arrive in Australia each year but only one is good enough to make the honour role for Carsguide COTY.This time around the prize fight is tougher than ever, with new arrivals for 2011 covering every size and price class, from the ordinary Chery J1 from China to the exotic Ferrari 458 Italia from Italy. Neither of them makes the COTY cut, but that's another story ...The reach for COTY 2011 contenders actually stretches back to the final months of last year, to include a couple of cars that just missed the 2011 cutoff, and this time around the newcomers must have hit showrooms by December 1.So, unfortunately, the all-new Toyota Camry is a non-starter. It's the same for the make-or-break four-cylinder Falcon.But the class of 2011 covers all the bases, from affordable mini cars through family and prestige cars to a hot new coupe. The hopefuls come from Europe, Asia and Japan, as well as right home in Australia.Setting the field for 2011 was not easy, particularly with the outgoing champion - the Volkswagen Polo - still casting a considerable shadow.But each of the COTY judges, who cover the Carsguide contenders and drive them in all conditions from coast to coast, has called up their personal favourites from Alfa Romeo through to Volkswagen to help guide the selection process.Then it is the final cull by the COTY veterans to produce the top 10 for a gruelling two-day shootout to consider everything from design and safety through to value and their driving ability on a wide range of roads from Ford's You Yangs proving ground to freeways, suburban streets and gravel roads on the outskirts of Melbourne.The field is set, the race is about to be run, but we cannot get ahead of ourselves.So here are the 10 COTY contenders ... now it's over to the judges: 

Evoque by name, evocative by nature.Our judges applauded the fact it has gone virtually straight from designer Gerry McGovern's drawing board to concept to sheet metal production and the showroom floor without major alterations.On the street - or out in the bush where it is not out of its depth with its Feerlander II underpinnings and Terrain Response drive system - it is a bold statement.It comes in five-door and three-door variants. The one we got was the Miranda Kerr version. Skinny and sexy.Unfortunately form overcomes function in the three-door model with long, heavy and cumbersome doors, difficult rear access and a claustrophobic feel in the back where the slit-sized windows won't even wind down.It's also expensive. And the options fitted here make it more so.Judges winced at $1300 for the cold climate pack which features heated seats, mirrors and stuff; $1495 for keyless entry and $1300 for metallic paint. However, we would consider selling our first born for the $2385 Meridian audio system - truly the best sound on four wheels.The expense would be bearable if it wasn't for the fact that the car comes with a temporary spare tyre and the interior light hadn't fallen out in our hands.Ford's ride and handling circuit at the You Yangs proving ground reveals a sophisticated suspension set-up that copes with high-speed bumps and thumps and hangs on with Tarzan's grip.Some judges didn't like the floaty feel or lack of steering feedback, but conceded it was good for a heavy car being pushed to the limit.Safety is assured with seven airbags and a host of driver aids, but rear vision is limited by the design so the $1090 park assist option is a necessity.VERDICTLike the Mini or the BMW X6, this is a decision for the heart, not the head and the heart says va-va-voom! But too many pragmatists on our judging panel marked it down on practicality. Range Rover Evoque Si4 5-door wagon autoPrice: $75,895 ($98,759 as tested)Engine: 2.0-litre turbo petrol, 177kW/320NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, four-wheel driveThirst: 8.7L/100km; 199g/km.

The new-age soft-roader is primarily aimed at cashed-up single twenty-somethings, and has already been given a series of lavish Gen-Y previews around the world.But now Carparazzi has confirmation that there will also be a five-door Evoque for people who need serious back-seat space.The basic shape of the Evoque is unchanged from the wedgy SUV seen last week at the Australian International Motor Show, but the roofline stays higher for longer and there has been a slight body stretch to make space for genuine rear doors.The Evoque, like almost every major European newcomer, is testing at the Nurburgring and side-on pictures clearly show the work that has gone into the five-door update of Gerry McGovern's original three-door design, despite the usual plastering of twirly camouflage.The three-door Evoque is already confirmed for production next year and sales in the back end of 2011, which points to a five-door preview at the Geneva Motor Show in March and the first deliveries towards the end of next year.

The baby SUV is about to be sent on a global test program involving more than 100 cars.  It's part of the fast-track development work which will see the city-focussed Evoque ready for production in the back end of 2011.Ten of the test models have been specially wrapped in camouflage with a destination theme, drawn from Google mapping of the world's greatest cities.It's no surprise that Sydney made the list, alongside London and Moscow.  The Evoque visiting Sydney is a prototype but the production version will be unveiled at the Australian International Motorshow in Sydney in October. For the The full story will be in print soon through Carsguide.