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Gliding serenely through the countryside behind the wheel of the sophisticated new 2024 Range Rover Evoque, I was reminded of the brilliant vehicles produced by our local British engine manufacturer JLR.
Nestled in my luxurious living room on wheels, I reflected on how I have followed this revolutionary Range Rover throughout its life.
It was now updating the story with this year’s update, although aware of some more pressing issues, mainly around the theft of its vehicles, insurance concerns and spare parts supply, all of which JLR is grappling with.
Best of British: 2024 Evoque plug-in hybrid is a sophisticated and fun drive
With 20-inch wheels, I drove the P300e plug-in hybrid version in Autobiography trim, which combines a frugal 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor to develop 308 hp, allowing it to accelerate from rest to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds to a maximum of 132 mph.
A large panoramic, sliding, tinted glass roof provides a sense of airy space, while its top-of-the-range Meridian hi-fi costs a £630 upgrade.
It’s an engaging drive, although pushing buttons away for a clean, minimalist dashboard may be going too far.
The main driving settings are comfort, grass and gravel, mud/ruts, sand and automatic. There’s also hill descent control, wading sensing, and intelligent all-wheel drive.
Once fully charged, the promised electric range of up to 37 miles is ideal for short, near-silent trips with zero emissions, shopping trips and social or sporting events. And there is still the safety and comfort of the gasoline-electric hybrid configuration with a 56.5-liter fuel tank.
As long as you keep it charged and drive sensibly, consumption is up to 190mpg, with total CO2 emissions of just 33g/km, although I suspect few would achieve that.
The main driving settings are comfort, grass and gravel, mud/ruts, sand and automatic.
As long as you keep it charged and drive sensibly, economy is up to 190mpg.
The promised electric-only range of up to 37 miles is ideal for short, near-silent zero-emission trips, shopping trips, and social or sporting events.
With the vehicle considered a target for criminal gangs, JLR has improved security on all new models.
The range starts at £40,080, but the version I drove, for £63,565, included £3,125 of fitted extras, including a tracker theft alert subscription as a £520 option.
With the vehicle believed to be a target for criminal gangs, JLR has improved security on all new models and is retrofitting older ones, as well as launching its own insurance option for buyers.
Will it fit in my garage? Range Rover Evoque Autobiography model year 2024 P300e plug-in hybrid (PHEV)
Price as driven with extras: £63,565 Additional features: £3,125 fitted options The Evoque range starts from: £40,080
Length: 4,371mm Width (mirrors folded): 1,996mm Width (mirrors facing out): 2,100mm Height: 1,649mm Distance between axis: 2,681mm Gross weight: 2,660 kilos Dead weight: 2,157 kilos Turning Circle (Curb to Curb): 11.6m
Engine: 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol with rechargeable battery and electric motor Force: 308 horsepower (think three Ford Fiestas) Transmission: 8-speed automatic gearbox
0-60mph: 6.1 seconds Toperating speed: 132 mph
Wheels: 20 inches
Fuel capacity: 56.5 liters
MPG up to 190mpg
CO2 emissions: 33g/km
Unit configuration: Comfort, grass and gravel, mud/ruts, sand and a car.
Characteristics: Hill descent control, wading detection and intelligent all-wheel drive.
Maximum wading depth: 530mm Ground clearance/ride height: 211mm
Extras include
Secure Tracker Pro Theft Alert Subscription: £520 Tribeca Blue Paint: £705 Corinthian ceiling in bronze contrast: £650 Privacy glass: £450 Meridian Surround Sound System: £630
Modern two-wheeled BMW
At a BMW car launch this week, I was pleasantly distracted by this fun and modern two-wheeled electric projector, ideal for overcoming traffic jams or anti-car regimes on city trips.
The BMW CE 02 is a battery-powered electric scooter/electric motorcycle. Feeling incredibly robust, yet lightweight, the 4 kW (5 HP) version which costs from £7,450 has a top speed of 45 km/h, a range of 45 kilometers and can be driven in the UK by anyone with a standard car license.
Fun and original: the two-wheeled electric projector is ideal for overcoming traffic jams or anti-car regimes on city trips
The more powerful 11kW (15PS) version, from £8,450, has a top speed of 90km/h and a range of 90km, but requires a motorcycle licence.
There are three driving modes: ‘Flow’ for urban traffic; ‘Surf’ for greater acceleration and effortless navigation and ‘Flash’ for a sportier experience.
Suitable for “two-person” travel, features include a reversing assistant and LED headlights.