Saar: Although it has shrunk in length and gained some kilograms, it’s grown-up than before. And yes, that does make sense!

The new Range Rover Evoque has shed its cover. And at first glance, it does look like a slimmer, leaner version of the Velar. That’s because it is. Land Rover has been quite clever about injecting some of the design cues from the mid-range SUV to the new baby on board. By doing so, the Brits have managed to keep the sexy stance from the original Evoque recipe and yet made the second-gen look more mature.

Let’s dive down to the specifics, shall we! The new Range Rover Evoque is built new Range Rover Evoque is a grown-up model. Even though it has shrunk in length and gained some kilograms, it’s grown-up than before. How come? The new iteration of the compact premium SUV rides on Land Rover’s new Premium Transverse Architecture. That brings in a 21mm longer wheelbase, trims the overhangs at both ends and can accommodate plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid systems. More on the last one later.

Thanks to the larger wheelbase, there’s more room to move about inside the cabin for both the living and non-living things. The luggage area, for instance, is 10 per cent larger than before and can gulp 591 litres of stuff. At the front, the glove box has gone up in size and so has the centre cubby, which can now accommodate tablets, handbags (very important!) and bottles. The rear seats are split in 40:20:40 ratio. Fold them all and the boot capacity goes up to 1,383 litres. Land Rover claims that 99.9 per cent of the parts in the new Evoque are new. Only the door hinges have been carried forward.

Since we are talking about behind the scenes stuff, why not talk about the powertrains and drive-type systems. At this time, the new Evoque is available for order with seven different types of engines (three petrol and four diesel). Six out of those feature all-wheel-drive and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which not only improves mileage but also boosts performance in specific scenarios. The odd one out is an Ingenium TD4 mill with 150PS/380Nm on tap. It will come with a manual transmission which powers the front wheels only. Next year, Land Rover will introduce a plug-in hybrid and a 3-cylinder petrol power-plants in the new Evoque.

The new model also comes with new-gen Active Driveline with Driveline Disconnect to enhance efficiency and Adaptive Dynamics to deliver a balance between comfort and agility. There’s also Terrain Response 2 on offer which, as we’ve seen on the proper Range Rover, can automatically detect the surface being driven on and adjusts the mechanicals accordingly. And yes, the threshold of wading through water has been increased from 500mm to 600mm.

In terms of features, the new Range Rover Evoque gets Matrix LED headlamps, choice of rims with up to 21 inches in size, flush door handles which hideaway to improve the look and aerodynamics of the compact SUV and optional brushed copper accents. Inside the cabin, the twin-touchscreen Touch Pro Duo system features an upgraded software and brings in support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other features include 16-way electrically adjustable front seats, cabin air ionisation adaptive cruise control with steering assist and autonomous emergency braking.

There are two unique features on the new Evoque which are well worth mentioning. The first one is called the Clearsight Rear View Mirror. The conventional IRVM is replaced by a 9.5-inch display. It is smooth and shiny enough to be used as any other IRVM. However, if the visibility is hampered by the rear passengers or something big the boot, the display can deliver the feed from a 1.7-megapixel camera, with 60FPS, mounted at the rear of the car. That’s pretty simple and, at the same time, very clever. Before you wonder, the camera is both dust and water repellent.

The other one-of-a-kind feature is called the Clearsight Ground View. The system uses front-facing cameras in each wing mirror and on the front grille to create a virtual 180-degree view under the front of the vehicle. In other words, it digitally erases the bonnet and feeds the resultant image on display inside the cabin. Land Rover says that this system can work at speeds up to 30kmph and can help in tight parking spaces.

So, there you have it. The new Range Rover Evoque will first go on sale in markets like Europe and North America before it gets to evolving markets like ours. It will come to India for sure. When exactly is a question that remains unanswered for the time being. Rest assured, whenever we get the dope on it, we won’t be keeping anything to ourselves!