2014 Range Rover Evoque revealed with 9-speed gearbox & Active Driveline

The 2014 Range Rover Evoque (pictured) gets a raft of improvements for 2014

In the run-up to the Geneva Motor Show in March, Land Rover revealed they were planning to fit a new 9-speed ZF automatic gearbox to the 2014 Range Rover Evoque. And they’ve done that, and more, as they reveal the 2014 Evoque. It’s hard to call the 2014 Evoque a facelift as it’s more about evolving the Evoque with improvements as it matures, but there are some interesting changes beyond a few cosmetic upgrades for 2014.

Chief amongst the changes is the new 9-speed ZF ‘box which promises some quite impressive economy improvements, with fuel consumption, and therefore emissions, improving by up to 11.4 per cent with the most frugal Evoque – the FWD with the 148bhp 2.2 litre diesel – now boasting official figures of 57.6mpg and 129g/km. Not that you’ll ever come close in the real world.

The other big change is the arrival of the optional Active Driveline, which turns 4WD Evoques in to FWD at speeds over 22mph – but turns back in to 4WD in just 300 milliseconds if needed – which will reduce drag in the driveline and improve economy further.

Active Driveline also comes with Active Torque Biasing which uses an e-Diff to shuffle torque between the rear wheels to improve handling, and all 4WD Evoques also get Torque Vectoring by Braking which works on all four wheels to also improve handling with judicious braking.

These are very sensible steps to make the Evoque an even better on-road drive without undermining its off-road prowess – which, whether it’s used or nor, is the real USP of the Evoque – and will help counter the advance of the competition (like the new Mercedes GLA and Porsche Macan).

There are other new toys for 2014 including a wade sensor and park assist systems plus new badges, new alloys and new paint.

It’s not so much a 2014 Range Rover evoque facelift as a 2014 Evoque upgrade. And, it would seem. a sensibly judged one too.

Now all we need is the Range Rover Evoque Sport.

By Cars UK