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Land Rover steps up its entry-level Evoque with Autobiography trim options

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The Range Rover Evoque has been an unparalleled success for the British SUV company, selling a record 270,000 vehicles since it debuted in 2011. Those are by far the greatest sales numbers ever produced by Land Rover, so one would think the company would sit back and watch as  the dollars rolled in. Why fix what isn’t broken, right?

Land Rover however, has different plans.

On Wednesday, the company announced two new editions of the small SUV, dubbed the Autobiography and Autobiography Dynamic editions. The Range Rover Autobiography is already the most exclusive SUV on the road, so the Evoque models have quite some shoes to fill, don’t they?

Upon first look, the Ranger Rover Evoque Biography screams exclusive with its bright-orange exterior, though a large number of color options will be available to the buyer. Other exterior special features include a chromed-out grill, special exterior lighting, and 20-inch alloy rims. After all, no SUV is complete without 20-inch rims.

The interior of the special edition SUV is as sumptuous as one would expect from the Autobiography edition. One key interior feature is InControlApps, a system that makes the current infotainment system act more like a smartphone, and will be available on both models.

The Autobiography Edition is perfect for anyone looking to ride in style, have a little kick to the gas pedal, and go on a ski trip without looking like they’re riding in a clown car.

This edition of the Evoque will include a turbocharged version of the SUV’s 2.0-liter engine that brings output up to 285 horsepower – a 45-hp jump from the other Autobiography edition. This performance variation also comes with reconfigured suspension geometry, firmer springs, new adaptive dampers and a nine-speed automatic transmission.

There’s nothing I love more than a compact SUV, and I’ve been yearning for the segment to blend more with the performance segment. With competitors such as the Mercedes GLA45, Porsche Macan Turbo, and Audi SQ5, I’m ecstatic my wish has been granted.

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Trevor Dermody
Trevor Dermody
Former Digital Trends Contributor
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