Evoque: The First Convertible SUV

Land Rover is set to debut the world’s first convertible SUV at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show next month – the Range Rover Evoque.

According to Land Rover’s Design Director, Gerry McGovern, the concept SUV is based on the bold bodylines of the Range Rover Evoque Coupe, but features a fully retractable soft top that lowers in just 12 seconds.

McGovern explains:

The Evoque lends itself beautifully to the idea of a convertible. This study is not a traditional convertible design execution – instead we have worked with the balance of the Evoque’s lines to retain its distinctive shape and create something that is unique and, we believe, highly desirable.

But is the Evoque really the world’s first drop-top SUV?

The Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet already features an automatically retractable soft top, but it’s technically a crossover vehicle, not an SUV.

And the Jeep Wrangler, of course, has been in production since 1987. However, its soft top is a lot more rugged than Nissan’s or Range Rover’s and must be removed manually (though an aftermarket automatic-retractable top is available).

For now it seems that the Range Rover Evoque is, in fact, the world’s first SUV with an automatically retractable soft top – and it’s only a matter of time before it finds its way into our shops.