New cars images

Land Rover has released details and images of the updated 2016 Evoque ahead of its full reveal at the upcoming 2015 Geneva auto show. Rover was careful to leave intact the chunky and charming aesthetics of its bestselling model, instead focusing on a much-need revision to its dated and stutter-prone infotainment system and—in Europe, at least—bringing a pair of diesel engine options to the table. The trim-level hierarchy also has been reordered to align with that of the Range Rover Sport, with the Evoque now available in SE, HSE, HSE Dynamic, and Autobiography versions. (FYI: A convertible Evoque is also in the works.)

A new front bumper punctuated by a pair of larger, more-aggressive air intakes and featuring slim, integrated LED fog lamps leads the update, accompanied by two new grille designs. The standard unit has two horizontal bars and a fine mesh pattern, while Evoque Dynamic models get a hexagonal pattern. The turn indicators are now fully part of the LED running lamps, and the 2016 Evoque also offers full-LED adaptive headlamps. Five-door HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims are bestowed the hood vents that previously graced only the three-door models. A new tailgate spoiler with a wider LED third brake light has been adopted, and the hatch gets “Gesture Tailgate, ” Land Rover’s take on the wave-a-foot-under-the-bumper-and-it’ll-open functionality. Finally, you can choose from among three new wheel designs in two finishes.

New powertrain options include a pair of TD4 diesels from JLR’s new Ingenium engine family, but those won’t be coming here—at least not yet, as the diesels have yet to be approved for use stateside. A Land Rover rep told us that “the corporate push for bringing diesel to the States is scheduled to happen soon, but at this time we don’t have a date.” (Of note: The U.S.-spec 2016 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will have a diesel V-6 on their options sheets.) When the updated 2016 Range Rover Evoque arrives here this fall, it will be powered by the familiar 240-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder mated to a nine-speed automatic.

Likewise, a trio of driver-assist features—lane-keeping assist, autonomous emergency braking, and a drowsiness monitor—have been added to the 2016 Evoque, but the same spokesperson told us that there may be a scenario where some of the gadgets aren’t available at launch. The final new bit is All-Terrain Progress Control, which allows you to set a speed between 1.1 and 19 mph, thereby letting the driver concentrate on picking through tricky or obstacle-strewn terrain rather than worrying about the vehicle’s speed.