Skip to main content

Land Rover cancels Range Rover Evoque convertible

Range Rover Evoque convertible concept overheadIf you were looking for an upscale Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, you’re out of luck. Land Rover won’t build the Range Rover Evoque convertible, according to Car and Driver.

Land Rover will reportedly launch a version of the Evoque with a large panoramic roof instead of doing a full convertible.

That’s probably for the better. The Evoque convertible, unveiled as a concept at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, didn’t look bad, but it looked so unlike a Land Rover that it sent our brains into diagnostic mode.

Of course, the Evoque itself was a stretch for Land Rover, but it stretched the company into a profitable niche. Plenty of people can find use for small crossovers, not many people can find use for convertible crossovers. Most that do buy Jeep Wranglers instead.

The hardtop Evoque attained its commercial and critical success by being a fashion item, but it’s also a pretty good car underneath. The Evoque convertible would have moved the needle too far away from practicality to make much sense.

The two-door hardtop Evoque is a good example of just how fine that line is. It looks great, but since it’s basically an SUV coupe, it’s not very practical.

Shedding the roof would produce a big, heavy convertible that wouldn’t be any better looking, but it would be completely useless.

With the Evoque convertible off the table, Land Rover will concentrate on its more traditional models. The LR4 and Defender will likely migrate to the new all-aluminum platform used by the new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, so watch this space.

Editors' Recommendations

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more