L.A. Auto Show: Range Rover Evoque adds sustainability to its pedigree

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To help celebrate its 40th anniversary -- an anniversary that coincided with production of its 1-millionth vehicle earlier this month -- British automaker Range Rover unveiled its new Evoque Wednesday.

The five-door, permanent all-wheel-drive Evoque is a crossover interpretation of the Evoque Coupe.

Like many manufacturers this year, Land Rover, which makes Range Rover, is adding environmental sustainability to its premium off-road brand image.

Its Evoque crossover is the “most environmentally aware vehicle Land Rover has ever produced,” said Phil Poppin, managing director of Land Rover, offering “class-leading fuel economy and beating out its European competitors in the premium small SUV segment.” [updated 10-17-2010, 4:12 p.m.: A previous version of this post did not include the descriptor “small.”]

The Evoque’s five-door, compact size allowed the engine to be downsized to four cylinders. The turbocharged 2-liter engine makes 240 horsepower and accelerates from zero to 60 in 7.1 seconds.

[Updated at 1:52 p.m.: Stylistically, the Range Rover Evoque lifts many of its styling cues from the LRX concept -- a falling roof and rising waist, for example. Accented with a panoramic glass roof, its interior uses touch-screen displays, hands-free audio and can also be equipped with a new 825-watt, 17-speaker high-end audio system developed in partnership with Meridian.

The coupe and five-door versions of the Evoque will both come to market in fall 2011. Pricing starts at $45,000.]

-- Susan Carpenter