July 4 may have been American Independence Day but it was also a red-letter day at the Land Rover plant in Halewood, near Liverpool, as the first production Range Rover Evoque rolled off the line.
The “baby Rangie” is aimed at city dwellers and and woman drivers, people who wouldn't have imagined themselves in a bigger, “conventional” Range Rover - and it seems to be working, with an order book of 18 000 from customers around the world.
Jaguar Land Rover CEO Dr Ralf Speth commented: The Evoque joins a product range that is the strongest we have ever had - and it fits in perfectly.
“It's a Range Rover with concept-car looks, lightweight technologies and the capability to deliver 5.7 litres/100km fuel consumption - and it's agile, nimble, designed to survive in the urban jungle and capable of tackling the toughest terrain thanks to Land Rover all-wheel drive.”
Three-quarters of the Evoques produced at Halewood will be exported and the workforce has doubled to more than 3000 to cope with demand - which is likely to increase still further when the “Posh” special edition becomes available, styled by (you guessed it) WAG queen Victoria Beckham, who's been named an ambassador for the Evoque.
The Evoque will be available in South Africa from November 1; prices, as always, when they get here.