Land Rover’s critical new Range Rover Evoque debuted today at the Paris Motor Show, ushering in a brave new world for the British off-roader brand. The debut continues the company’s march toward the softroader segment, a movement first started with the LR2/Freelander and now resulting in the handsome new three-door seen here.
Slated to be joined shortly by a five-door version, the compact Evoque fits right into the Land Rover mold design-wise, albeit with a surprising amount of surface jewelry for such a sleek two-box shape. From the protruding fog lamps to the horizontal matte chrome-trimmed hood intakes to the unique divots atop the wheel lip moldings and the somewhat fiddly taillamp lenses, there’s quite a bit to draw one’s eye. The overall impression one gets of the vehicle on the show floor is one of imposing width, a feeling that’s magnified when you realize that an individual of average height can see over the vehicle when standing next to it.