Land Rover begins production of the Range Rover Evoque

Land Rover started production of its Range Rover Evoque on Monday, as the first production vehicle was driven off the line at Land Rover's U.K. Halewood plant in Liverpool.

"The Evoque is an incredibly exciting vehicle that joins a product range which across both of our brands is the strongest we have ever had--and it fits in perfectly," Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth said in a statement.

The automaker says it has already received 18,000 orders globally for the vehicle, which is one of 40 new products the company is planning to launch in the next five years.

In preparation for production and delivery of the Evoque, Jaguar Land Rover doubled its Halewood workforce to 3,000 employees. The carmaker expects to export 75 percent of output at the plant.

"It is a groundbreaking product, a Range Rover with concept car looks, lightweight technologies and the capability to deliver 50 mpg fuel economy. At the same time it's still a true Range Rover that's agile, nimble, designed to survive in the urban jungle and capable of tackling the toughest climates and terrains," Speth added.

Land Rover says the sporty Range Rover Evoque three-door will be shipped with two individual rear seats, with customers having the option of ordering a three-seat bench if preferred.

The Evoque five-door model, with which the automaker is targeting traditional SUV customers and families, has a roofline that is an inch taller than the three-door's to offer extra head and shoulder room for rear-seat passengers.

By David Jolley- Automotive News Europe