SOME Land Rover purists might say that the day they have been dreading has arrived. 

The reason is that Land Rover has turned out a luxury crossover version that will definitely be the muse of crossover fans but may be viewed as an anathema by 4x4 enthusiasts because of its radical divergence from the Rover they have been used to driving on and off the road.

Fresh from its introduction at the current Detroit Auto Show where it garnered most if not all awards and praises, the Evoque was unveiled by Land Rover Philippines (LRP) at its showroom in the Bonifacio Global City last week, marking the first time in memory that the company has released a fuel-efficient, green technology-based version of its iconic workhorse-cum-status symbol that should be the toast of environment-friendly car enthusiasts.

LRP president Wellington Soong explained that “the Range Rover Evoque is a new generation of SUV that attracts costumers who have not previously considered getting an SUV. It also pulls in the SUV fans that have been waiting for one from the famed Land Rover brand.”

There may be mixed feelings about the new Rover as some enthusiasts say the words “Rover” and “economy” really do not go together. Some may even say that one would not want to buy a P5-million 4x4 vehicle and be called cheap.

Atty. Robert Consunji, a Land Rover aficionado, counters the argument by simply saying it is not a cheap car, it simply agrees with the modern global standard that a vehicle must be in tune with the environment and not against it.

The Evoque has parts that are either recyclable or made from recycled materials that make it one of the most expensive yet environment-friendly vehicles in the world.

Its new design, a low-slung, coupe-wagon style, gives the Range Rover lineup a new design that veers away from the old-school box-type models of the mainstream Rover. This move is a marked change in the direction of Range Rover designs.

And while dyed-in-the-wool adventurers are now grumbling about what they call the heresy of the Evoque, the Range Rover Evoque was actually made to attract a new market that has been demanding this model for quite some time now.

The Evoque, winner of the North American International Auto Show “North American Truck of the Year,” comes from the LRX concept car and features a long, rear sloping roof, sharply cut doors and slim greenhouse design.

Two body styles are available, the two-door coupe and the four-door version.

Big doors at the rear makes it easy to stuff in cargo and the heavily bolstered bucket seats up front and the sculpted seats at the back provide comfort and support.

The interior materials are definitely first class even by just the look of them, and touching them further confirms the perception of luxury.

A six-speed transmission controls the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder aluminum engine that cranks out 240-hp of power, 340-Nm of torque. It may seem like a huge downgrade from the traditional six- and eight-cylinder gas guzzlers of the old Rover line but it is turbocharged with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing.

This is also the first Land Rover with a two-wheel-drive variant, although locally, only the four-wheel drive will be available and only 20 units have been allocated for the Philippines, said Soong. On board the variants available are the push-button Terrain response electronics that has settings for gravel, grass, sand, mud or snow (If and when you’ll need the last mode in the Philippines, this writer does not know).

And to top it all off, the Land Rover Evoque is priced so strategically competitive in its market at P5.35 million for the four-door variant and P5.5 million for the two-door coupe.