Automotive

Zooming in on the Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic

Zooming in on the Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
Though Land Rover's InControl Apps solution is not perfect, it appears to be the best integration of smartphone yet achieved by a vehicle manufacturer.
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Though Land Rover's InControl Apps solution is not perfect, it appears to be the best integration of smartphone yet achieved by a vehicle manufacturer.
The "Autobiography Dynamic" name is an attempt to position it above the existing Pure, Dynamic and Prestige versions. I guess this is the wrong time to point out that maybe Biography would have been a better choice - if someone else has bothered to write a biography, then you aren't a nobody, whereas any pretentious shmutz can pen their own autobiography.
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The "Autobiography Dynamic" name is an attempt to position it above the existing Pure, Dynamic and Prestige versions. I guess this is the wrong time to point out that maybe Biography would have been a better choice - if someone else has bothered to write a biography, then you aren't a nobody, whereas any pretentious shmutz can pen their own autobiography.
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
The Autobiography Dynamic is available in coupé or 5-door body styles and benefits from enhanced dynamic styling, forged 20-inch alloy wheels finished in satin technical grey and exterior trim components detailed in Santorini black.
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The Autobiography Dynamic is available in coupé or 5-door body styles and benefits from enhanced dynamic styling, forged 20-inch alloy wheels finished in satin technical grey and exterior trim components detailed in Santorini black.
The Autobiography Dynamic is available in coupé or 5-door body styles
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The Autobiography Dynamic is available in coupé or 5-door body styles
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic specifications
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic specifications
A Santorini black contrast roof is available as standard, while body-colour side trim visually lowers the vehicle and creates an athletic, purposeful stance. An exclusive and striking new Phoenix orange premium metallic body colour scheme debuts for the Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic.
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A Santorini black contrast roof is available as standard, while body-colour side trim visually lowers the vehicle and creates an athletic, purposeful stance. An exclusive and striking new Phoenix orange premium metallic body colour scheme debuts for the Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic.
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic is available in coupé or 5-door body styles
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic is available in coupé or 5-door body styles
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
Inside, Autobiography Dynamic customers can choose from a dynamic plus leather interior with either sports or premium climate seats in a range of four colours. The front seats also feature the Autobiography embossed logo, while the dashboard is highlighted with dark brushed aluminium trim accents unique to the Autobiography Dynamic.
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Inside, Autobiography Dynamic customers can choose from a dynamic plus leather interior with either sports or premium climate seats in a range of four colours. The front seats also feature the Autobiography embossed logo, while the dashboard is highlighted with dark brushed aluminium trim accents unique to the Autobiography Dynamic.
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic
Though it might take some time for app developers to "vehicle-optimise" their apps, a number of well-known apps will be available at launch, including iHeartRadio for Auto, Stitcher, Glympse, Sygic, Parkopedia, Hotelseeker, Cityseeker, Eventseeker, News on Board, Winston and MobileDay.
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Though it might take some time for app developers to "vehicle-optimise" their apps, a number of well-known apps will be available at launch, including iHeartRadio for Auto, Stitcher, Glympse, Sygic, Parkopedia, Hotelseeker, Cityseeker, Eventseeker, News on Board, Winston and MobileDay.
Once your phone is connected to the vehicle’s USB port, InControl Apps enables vehicle-optimised smartphone apps to be displayed and controlled with their original look and feel from the Evoque's touchscreen.
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Once your phone is connected to the vehicle’s USB port, InControl Apps enables vehicle-optimised smartphone apps to be displayed and controlled with their original look and feel from the Evoque's touchscreen.
Land Rover's InControl Apps enables owners to summon roadside assistance or the emergency services more easily and a remote function means you can check fuel levels, find your vehicle in a crowded car park and check if you have locked up or left doors or windows open.
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Land Rover's InControl Apps enables owners to summon roadside assistance or the emergency services more easily and a remote function means you can check fuel levels, find your vehicle in a crowded car park and check if you have locked up or left doors or windows open.
There are many reasons a car and a smartphone should be more tightly integrated, and Land Rover has thought of most of them, including the ability to download journey details from car to phone to assist in claiming business mileage expenses and to track the vehicle if it is stolen.
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There are many reasons a car and a smartphone should be more tightly integrated, and Land Rover has thought of most of them, including the ability to download journey details from car to phone to assist in claiming business mileage expenses and to track the vehicle if it is stolen.
Some of the interface travesties thrust upon us over the last decade by auto manufacturers indicates it is time to simply get out of the way and facilitate direct access to the same navigation, music streaming, location services, weather services, contact database, voice memos, calendar, audio library, telephone and messaging we use at all other times when we're not driving a vehicle.
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Some of the interface travesties thrust upon us over the last decade by auto manufacturers indicates it is time to simply get out of the way and facilitate direct access to the same navigation, music streaming, location services, weather services, contact database, voice memos, calendar, audio library, telephone and messaging we use at all other times when we're not driving a vehicle.
Though the InControl Apps solution is not perfect, it appears to be the best integration of the vitally-important smartphone yet achieved by a vehicle manufacturer.
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Though the InControl Apps solution is not perfect, it appears to be the best integration of the vitally-important smartphone yet achieved by a vehicle manufacturer.
The Autobiography Dynamic is available in coupé or 5-door body styles and benefits from enhanced dynamic styling, forged 20-inch alloy wheels finished in satin technical grey and exterior trim components detailed in Santorini black.
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The Autobiography Dynamic is available in coupé or 5-door body styles and benefits from enhanced dynamic styling, forged 20-inch alloy wheels finished in satin technical grey and exterior trim components detailed in Santorini black.
The Autobiography Dynamic is available in coupé or 5-door body styles and benefits from enhanced dynamic styling, forged 20-inch alloy wheels finished in satin technical grey and exterior trim components detailed in Santorini black.
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The Autobiography Dynamic is available in coupé or 5-door body styles and benefits from enhanced dynamic styling, forged 20-inch alloy wheels finished in satin technical grey and exterior trim components detailed in Santorini black.
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)
The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)
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The Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)
View gallery - 45 images

What do you do when your new car has won 157 international automotive awards, is the fastest selling car the company has ever produced, but at three years of age, needs some extra pizzaz? You give it more luxury, more performance, more connectivity and a distinctive new (albeit slightly silly) name. Last month Range Rover flagged its intention to bring the most performance-focused Evoque yet to Geneva, and we've now had the opportunity to see it in the flesh. Meet the Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Dynamic.

Phoenix Orange metallic paint job aside, the Evoque Autobiography Dynamic has enough new features to tempt existing owners back to their dealerships for an upgrade.

The Evoque with the silly name will only be available with a turbo-charged 2.0-litre petrol engine producing 281 hp and a very healthy 400 Nm of torque, though Land Rover has not released details of exactly where peak power and peak torque are achieved in the rev range.

Just the same, that's a substantial 45 hp and 60 Nm increase compared with the existing Range Rover Evoque – more than some cars get in total. The performance gains have been achieved with a new single-scroll turbocharger, new engine management software and a freer-flowing exhaust system with "an appropriately muscular sound to complement the vehicle’s enhanced handling."

The Autobiography Dynamic is available in coupé or 5-door body styles
The Autobiography Dynamic is available in coupé or 5-door body styles

The 9-speed ZF automatic transmission with adaptive shift program has been retuned so that it will respond more readily to driver inputs, even when the gearshift is still sitting next to D (Drive). The transmission’s Sport mode and steering-wheel-mounted CommandShift paddle-type gear-selector offer more of the same. Land Rover claims "a noticeable increase in mid-range performance and gearshifts that seamlessly adapt to driver behavior."

All Autobiography Dynamics will come with the company's active driveline as standard equipment. Active driveline improves traction, enhances agility and improves fuel efficiency by engaging (or disengaging) four-wheel drive automatically as required. The active driveline switches to front-wheel drive during steady-state driving at speeds over 22mph, reducing drag losses from the rear drivetrain. When needed, the four-wheel-drive system automatically reactivates within 300 milliseconds.

The active driveline system also automatically distributes torque between the rear wheels, and can lock them together, all providing improved traction off road, and enhancing performance on it.

Torque Vectoring by Braking (TVB) functionality is standard equipment on the Autobiography Dynamic, operating on all four wheels to reduce understeer.

Completing a range of performance improvements, the front brake discs have been enlarged to 350mm, steering has been revised for greater precision, agility and turn-in response while the adaptive dampers have been recalibrated and their spring rates have been made firmer. According to the press materials, this has been achieved "without impacting on the Range Rover Evoque’s compliant ride quality", though firmer springs are firmer springs and it will be interesting to see how the company has achieved this.

Smartphone integration – almost

Probably the most interesting aspect of the new car is its integration of the smartphone, a feature which will shortly become available as an option across the entire Range Rover range, using the company's InControl App. Once your phone is connected to the vehicle’s USB port, InControl Apps enables vehicle-optimized smartphone apps to be displayed and controlled with their original look and feel from the Evoque's touchscreen.

Land Rover's InControl Apps enables owners to summon roadside assistance or the emergency services more easily and a remote function means you can check fuel levels, find your vehicle in a crowded car park and check if you have locked up or left doors or windows open.
Land Rover's InControl Apps enables owners to summon roadside assistance or the emergency services more easily and a remote function means you can check fuel levels, find your vehicle in a crowded car park and check if you have locked up or left doors or windows open.

Though it might take some time for app developers to "vehicle-optimize" their apps, a number of well-known apps will be available at launch, including iHeartRadio, AutoStitcher, Glympse, Sygic, Parkopedia, Hotelseeker, Cityseeker, Eventseeker, News on Board, Winston and MobileDay.

Though the InControl Apps solution is not perfect, it's a step in the right direction. With Apple now making a significant (if seemingly obvious) push to embrace the car dashboard with CarPlay (which looks set to find its way into the vehicles of a number of major auto manufacturers, including Jaguar Land Rover), better mirroring the music streaming, location services, weather services, contact databases ... and everything else we're accustomed to using when we're not driving a vehicle, seems greatly enhanced.

All of this is good news for the consumer as it makes sense to use the same interface and software we all use all day every day when we're driving, even if it's just to minimize driver distraction.

The Silly Name

Finally, if you're wondering where the "Autobiography Dynamic" name came from, it is the new range-topping Evoque and Land Rover is hence positioning it above the existing Pure, Dynamic and Prestige versions. As it's sporty, like the Dynamic model, it got the rather cumbersome double-barrel name. I guess this is the wrong time to point out that maybe Biography might have been a better choice of names – if someone else has bothered to write a biography, then you are indeed a somebody (which is what the name infers), whereas any pretentious shmutz can pen their own autobiography.

View gallery - 45 images
2 comments
2 comments
Rocky Stefano
You know, I agree that all of this in car dashboard app stuff is great. However since its illegal for me to use my phone in any way except hands-free mode then how will it be any different when I'm using the app on the car's dash? Am I not being "distracted" from driving. This is going to be interesting from a policing perspective to say the least.
The Skud
I'm with you, Rocky - Yet another maker jumping on the dangerous "iPhone can do it all" bandwagon. I have nothing against automatic systems in cars that can handle the boring stuff, like navigation or blind stop monitoring, by themselves, but involving the driver in this way - and let's face it, people WILL use apps or games that need driver input - is simply stupid. If people get caught causing crashes or whatever, the car makers should be made to pay the fine equivalent to medical research or funds for accident victim's rehabilitation! And the same goes for iPhone makers after accidents caused by people texting while driving.