The all-wheel drive in the Range Rover Evoque ~ World Of SUV

The Range Rover Evoque is enhanced by a nine -stage automatic, rear-wheel drive , torque vectoring and a stop-start function. These measures are designed to increase efficiency in the standard cycle and thus the fleet consumption serve, on the other hand they have what it takes to make the SUV more agile and comfortable. The former was a desideratum , while it actually already worked quite well with the comfort . How well they succeeded, we were on a longer drive to try.

Unique nine -speed automatic
With nine stages in the transverse-mounted gearbox of the Evoque is now - at least for a short time - traveling alone in Europe. Only when Chrysler will have managed to make the signals from the motor control of the Jeep Cherokee for identical machines to understand this uniqueness that will come to an end . The Evoque is already since 2011 a great success for Land Rover. The nine-speed automatic transmission solves the down with six stages and is mandatory in conjunction with the two -liter Si4 petrol engine called . Moreover, it can be ordered with all diesel engines in conjunction with all-wheel drive for 2330 euros . Our car had a 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesels " SD4 " with 190 hp and 420 Newton meters.

Visible gear changes
DC when you start off you can see the many switching operations. Yes, "sees " just in town, on pavement and other irregularities , it is actually mainly the tachometer where the gear changes are read. Hearing or felt they are usually not what is good, because otherwise they would annoy the crew probably sooner or later . Point of this exercise is to provide the best possible match the speed of the motor in any situation to the load requirement to reduce consumption further . It is known that running gas exchange and combustion processes depending on the load at a certain speed from the most energy efficient . This also includes the spread, ie the distance from the highest was increased significantly at the lowest gear ratio. It is located at 9.84 , while the six-speed counterpart only about a factor of six had . At the highest level , the motor rotates thereby already at 120 km / h 700 rev / min lower. It's impressive how comparatively hard against it a Evoque with six-speed automatic feels.

Savings of up to ten percent
The manufacturer of the switch box , ZF, " savings of ten to 16 percent compared to today's conventional six-speed automatic transmissions in front-transverse installation " promised . According to Land Rover Evoque , it reduces the " fuel consumption by up to four percent." Perhaps the six-speed solution was already very good, Land Rover has certainly also will be a stop-start function built with , which is to bring into play " further savings of six percent." A total of ten per cent so , however, with certainty only in the case of Si4 petrol engine , but certainly less with our diesel.

Strange contradiction
While the gear its work so done very subtly , we can also report on suspension and sound much good - for example, that the engine is not really sound like diesel , or that the suspension behaves exemplary swallow happily at least for small suggestions. In a peculiar contradiction behaves the electrically assisted steering, numb to overdamped conveys little information . In curves can be brought to understeer the Evoqe pretty easy.

All-wheel drive only when necessary
Both the callousness and the lower taxes are typical signs that we are sitting in a front-wheel drive . Here you can a steering not unlimited interpret " mawkish " without annoying the driver with noticeable torque steer . The all-wheel drive Evoque , a front-wheel drive ? Yes, he uses his four-wheel drive only when traction is also used on the rear wheels . Otherwise not . The traction between drive shaft and rear differential is needed fro a clutch. A typical hang-on wheel . "To hang on " means " stand ready " and the drive is " waiting " on his bet. Natural reason is the higher efficiency in the standard consumption cycle.

A step further
This principle is already known from almost all modern all-wheel training with a transverse engine , the Evoque is Land Rover was the first manufacturer but a step further . His drive specifies the drive shaft about 35 km / h to a complete stop , at least when the Si4 petrol engine is installed. " Active Drive Line" that is, at Land Rover and seems to be the diesel consumption standard not to pay off . Manufacturers of these quasi double wheel cut-off is not the supplier of the nine-speed automatic transmission, ZF , where they had already finished developing a corresponding system in principle , but GKN contrary to expectations . If the traction needed, it is again able to transmit force within three tenths of a second . Two additional couplings on the rear axle , also from GKN , also allow for a continuous transverse distribution of drive torque between the left and right rear wheel. In addition to the efficiency gains the whole is also good for so-called torque vectoring , because you can generate targeted at running wheel drive by more torque on the outside rear additional yaw moment that helps the car when turning . Two additional couplings on the rear axle , also from GKN , also allow for a continuous transverse distribution of drive torque between the left and right rear wheel. This lenkerleichternde force distribution is further supported by targeted separately applied brake pulses , as one already knows from other vehicles. This technical tidbit is built to happiness in all wheel drive versions from model year 2014. Evoque as a pure front-wheel drive , an absurdity , because the liquor consumption also continues to offer especially one wants now really no longer have.

Happy ending with ride controlThanks Torque Vectoring the crippling understeer is blown away , the Evoque turns willingly and follows the steering commands. The whole car and even the steering feels lighter, which enhances driving pleasure felt. Thus, the enjoyment will be no regrets also possible , Land Rover has the Evoque also still the same given an adaptive cruise control with congestion and emergency brake assist , a lane departure warning , traffic sign recognition , a longitudinal and cross- parking assist , a collision warning system and a calf -sensing said water depth indicator . Everything was great , the only sign recognition seemed to be less of something on the ball than the other makes. Well, yes . Quite ripe seemed to us also not subject to additional leather seats. Your side bolsters we found - despite slim body - something in short supply, the seat short.

700 mm fording depth
Important a Land Rover customers may be something like the water depth indicator . Even the SUV Evoque is not a SUV in the strict sense , but he can climb serious than its competitors, which is due to its fording depth of 700 millimeters. Many real SUVs offer only 500 millimeters. His ausgefuchstes traction control system " Terrain Response " is already a bank, with the new powertrain is the Evoque off-road even a little better because the lower courses of the nine-speed automatic transmission are due to the drastically increased spread translates shorter. That means more torque at the wheels and better enforcement capacity in heavy gravel, loose sand or mud resistant , respectively, better climbing ability.

Restrained visual changes
That there is a revised model , is of course also made visible , albeit reluctant , as with redesigned Land Rover emblems , interior decoration made of aluminum or a modified color palette. In addition, three-stage air-conditioned front seats and heated rear seats are now available. Too bad that that is also optional , huge Pano ramaglasdach also in the new generation does not have to be open.

Stale representation on the Navi
With so lavish facilities , both the graphical representation on the eight -inch navigation screen, as well as the routing and user guide takes more stale than previously . Land Rover says that they had a whole team of developers already - can recruit sitting right there -ran to make up for this gap - in part from BMW. If that were successful , the already successful Evoque will be virtually unstoppable . Except maybe by the next Porsche Macan or by the price: When the above-mentioned four-door SD4 fun that 's only including nine-speed automatic transmission and chassis control adjusts starts at 41,760 euros . 42 480 would cost the appropriately equipped Si4 , in which the automatic system is already series . Mind you , without further equipment.

The nine-speed automatic transmission solves the down with six stages and is mandatory in conjunction with the 2.0-liter Si4 petrol engine called. Moreover, it can be ordered with all diesel engines in conjunction with all-wheel drive.

Our car had a 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesels "TD4" with 190 hp and 420 Newton meters.

Hearing or felt the many switching operations are usually not what is good, because otherwise they would annoy the crew probably sooner or later.

The rear view is typical of all Land Rover - except of course the Defender.

Overview of the drive train of GKN. In the rear differential housing the multi-plate clutches sitting in front of the drive shafts.

The clamshell bonnet is a late legacy of the very first Range Rover from 1970.

The visible changes in the revised generation remain inconspicuous. Here the unaltered front light signature.

The torque-vectoring rear differential in GKN accomplished by means of two multi-plate clutches.

Among other things, there are now heated rear seats.

In pleasant calmly decorated interior, there were few changes, which is of course good.

The Terrain Response traction control is very mature and is similar to the restricted mobility of chassis effectively.

The fact that the Evoque is also terrain, this picture illustrates insufficiently.

The drawing of GKN shows a section through the entire drive from the "Power Take Off" from the transmission to the rear differential unit "RDU" with its two multi-plate clutches

In addition, the petrol, the middle part of the drive train between the Power-Take-Off on the gearbox and final drive be shut down. GKN hopes that a gain in efficiency in the tenth liter range