Is The New Range Rover Evoque's Design TOO CLOSE For Comfort?

At first when I heard this I thought "This guy's gotta be nuts." But then I took a closer look at the new Range Rover Evoque and it hit me.

"Wow, this car does boast a lot of Ford-like qualities."

First, take a look at the exterior design. Note the blacked-out A-pillar, sweeping front and rear light kits, and aggressive lines. When you line them up side-by-side, it appears as though the Ford Explorer is a good indicator of how the four-door version of the Evoque could very well look. Sure its finer details make the Range Rover look a bit sexier but overall, the design does draw some cues from Ford.

Where you have to take a better look is inside the cabin. Not only are some of the Range Rover's switchgear lifted from the Ford Edge/Lincoln MKX, but the overall design theme reeks of the Ford Taurus SHO. Besides the Jaguar-inspired gear selector, the interior's design trend seems to be somewhat related to the Taurus, granted, it has been given high-end treatment.

Is 00R on point or off base with these calls?

Discuss...


2012 Range Rover Evoque Photo Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘

2012 Range Rover Evoque Photo Gallery

BMW Paris Preview Photo Gallery

2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Photo Gallery

2012 Porsche 911 GTS Photo Gallery

2012 Audi TT RS Photo Gallery

AutoSpies.com Photo Galleries

If you want to see your photos running on our homepage photo ticker, be sure to upload your photos on the go by sending them to Mobile@AutoSpies.com

Share on Facebook

Joe_Limon - 9/23/2010 1:52:11 AM

+5 Boost

I think... once you saw the resemblance to the ford exploder, you took a closer look at the vehicle and tried to find resemblances across many different product lines. If you break it down like that, you could in essence do this with any vehicle.

B7FAN - 9/23/2010 7:24:44 AM

+5 Boost

This is nice but when the F.E dropped a couple of months ago i said it looks like something land rover would do. Yes the explorer looks nice but I do see the heavily relied on land rover for inspiration

M35MT - 9/23/2010 1:15:53 PM

+5 Boost

I agree with you Joe

But of course these companies are still working together so they still share ideas and parts.

Look at the new explorer and how it ripped off the Land Rover Terrain Response dial - even using the indentical images for each mode.

WorldofLuxury - 9/23/2010 1:53:18 AM

+2 Boost

Based solely on design, I LOVE THIS CAR!

Whelan - 9/23/2010 9:08:16 AM

0 Boost

Ford Explorer Sport Coupe' Maybe they could copy it for a Lincoln design.

adambravo - 9/23/2010 10:25:10 AM

+3 Boost

I call bullsh*t. Where is there any Edge/MKX "switchgear"? And it's more accurate to say the new Explorer--like the Flex--picked up some Land Rover/Range Rover design cues (eg the Explorer's clamshell hood, which Range Rover has had for decades).

Agent001 - 9/23/2010 5:25:02 PM

-2 Boost

Look at the toggle switches on the steering wheel. Straight out of the 11 Edge.

001

JUGNU - 9/23/2010 10:41:31 AM

+1 Boost

Agree on all points. Looks like a smaller version of Explorer. I would say rich man's Ford Edge. Interior also resembles interior of new Fords. Land Rover for Ladies. It is a shame Land Rover made such a soft crossover.

JUGNU

BondMI6 - 9/23/2010 10:41:32 AM

0 Boost

Interior-wise I'd have to agree with you 00R.

But these guys are smart- make a Ford interior and charge a Range Rover's price for it........

I wonder if I slap a Range Rover badge on my old used Yugo I could finally get it to sell.........

roverhaul - 9/23/2010 11:38:47 AM

+4 Boost

The blacked out a, b & c pillars are a Range Rover design cue - the "Floating Roof", they've had that since the early 80's.

I think it points back to the Stormer concept more then anything else:
[img]http://www.ovalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/rrstormerhero4_thumb.jpg[/img]

I think the Explorer may have taken more from Land Rover design-wise then not - including the new Ford branded version of Terrain Response.

And as far as the switchgear, I think it's more of a mix between the new XJ & the Range Rover Sport/LR4. I'm not seeing Ford there at all. Do you see actual switchgear or do you just get a Ford impression? It's the XJ steering wheel, window controls, seat memory controls, 8" main display. It's a version of the Range Rover Sport HVAC.

roverhaul - 9/24/2010 1:57:21 AM

+1 Boost

Come on 001, steering wheel is not identical - look what you're making me do:

http://www.ovalnews.com/2010/09/autospies-com-seems-to-think-the-evoque-is-all-ford.html

And I would have posted the pics here but your AgentSpace just comes back with SQL errors when I try to register.

Agent001 - 9/24/2010 1:58:46 AM

+1 Boost

I said the TOGGLE switches on the wheel, NOT the wheel itself.

And the pictures clearly show that...

001

roverhaul - 9/24/2010 2:23:55 AM

+1 Boost

Sorry - should have worded it differently "switches are not straight from the Ford" - they're close, but not identical - even the shape of the entire pad is different. So yes, the general concept is there, but they are not the same switchgear, just look closely shapes, iconography & reliefs are not the same. The Jag/LR buttons smoothly curve down while the Ford plastic is more angular. Again I'll give you that the basic design/functionality is the same but it's not like they just lifted the switch from Ford - they lifed it from Jaguar. Same with the seat memory controls on the door, right out of an XJ.

If you want to find something lifted from somewhere else, compare the windows controls, gear selector & a few more items on 2010 Range Rover and the 2001 BMW 7-Series.

Chaordic1 - 9/24/2010 3:00:10 PM

+1 Boost

Yes, you're basically correct in your assessment of the strong resemblance between the new Range Ranger Evoque and the Ford Explorer, but I don't see them as competitors or even as being cross-shopped.

However, the Explorer is primarily a North American vehicle and has only a small presence in other markets, even new Explorer crossover. It will benefit from Ford being able to say that it resembles and has many of the same features as the more expensive Range Rover.

In contrast, Range Rover (and Land Rover) seem to be more popular in Europe and have a comparatively small presence in other markets, such as North America. It will continue to sell on the basis of its image as a premium (over-priced) luxury vehicle that is exclusive (because most people realize it is not a particularly good value for the money).

suspence - 9/24/2010 7:55:46 PM

+1 Boost

Range Rover is quickly becoming a brand to Land Rover as oppose to a model. The Evoque continues to dilute the Range Rover name just as the Sport has done. THE Range Rover should be the top model in the Land Rover line. It should not be a LR3/4 rebodied (Sport) or whatever the hell this thing is. I'll have a little more pride in my classic when I see this thing on the road because God knows I won't see it off road.

roverhaul - 9/25/2010 12:58:03 AM

+1 Boost

I think with the complete lack of Land Rover branding on the Evoque, we're going to see the "Range Rover" brand start to separate from LR.