Range Rover Evoque to get RS badging

Tata Motors owned JLR is planning to introduce an RS version of their highly successful Evoque crossover by the end of this year. The report follows news of the company’s plans to introduce the Range Rover Sport RS by 2014.

The beefed up mini SUV is expected to be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The engine is most mostly likely the Ford sourced EcoBoost engine now powering the entry level Jaguar XJL along with a number of Ford SUVs in the US. In the Evoque RS the engine is expected to make around 300PS of power a similar torque figure. Jaguar is likely to make subtle body changes to the Evoque to distinguish the RS variant.

The Evoque RS is expected to be followed by the meatier Range Rover Sport RS which will get the supercharged V8 5.0-litre mill from the XK RS and the XF RS models. The power rating for the Range Rover Sport RS is expected to be in the region of 550PS and 700Nm.

The Evoque is one of Land Rover’s most successful models and is believed to have helped the company out of bankruptcy. In India, the standard Evoque rivals the Audi Q5 and the BMW X3. The RS variant though, will cater to the more enthusiastic SUV drivers and will be a rivalled by the Porsche Macan R when it is launched in early 2014.

Source: WorldCarFans