Our photographers have captured the latest spy photos of the upcoming Land Rover Range Rover, including photos of the new SUVs interior. The photos below show what appears to be a significantly larger LCD screen in the center of the dash.

The all-new Range Rover is expected to shed significant weight compared to the current model thanks to an all-aluminum structure. Look for similar engines to the current lineup, including the big 5.0-liter V8 and a supercharged version, as well as the addition of an eight-speed automatic transmission to further improve fuel economy and acceleration.

And to further help grow Land Rover’s green image, we expect to see the launch of the brand’s first hybrid. Recently Land Rover previewed its electric technology with the Range_e Concept using a diesel engine mated to a hybrid electric drive, although it’s expected that the production model will use gasoline power instead.

GALLERY: 2013 Range Rover

For the first time in it’s 47 year history, the European award for car of the year will be announced at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show.

Hakan Matson, automotive editor of Swedish newspaper Dagens Industri and President of the jury said, “We are very pleased to have won the Geneva Motor Show as our partner. From this year on, the Car of the Year announcement will mark the ceremonial kick-off for the most important event in the European automotive sector and provide journalists as well as manufacturers with a new platform for exchange.”

This competition is regarded as the most prestigious automobile award that a car can win. The jury is made up of 59 renowned auto journalists from 23 different European countries and was brought to life originally by seven different European car magazines.

The nominees for 2012 Car of the Year are: Citroën DS 5, Fiat Panda, Ford Focus, Opel (Vauxhall) Ampera/Chevrolet Volt, Range Rover Evoque, Toyota Yaris and the Volkswagen Up!. Electric motors, fuel efficiency and smaller bodies seem to be the theme for this years nominees.

For more info, visit http://www.caroftheyear.org/

There probably weren’t too many surprises on this one. Since it’s introduction, the ‘baby’ Range has been making waves in the luxury SUV field, augmented by awards left right and center.

Although it faced fairly stiff competition from the updated 2012 version of Honda’s popular CR-V and the latest BMW X3, in terms of design and engineering, the Evoque was judged the overall winner in the 19th annual North American Truck of the Year awards, which took place on January 9th at Cobo Hall in Detroit, just prior to the opening of this year’s North American International Auto Show.

This represents the third time that a European branded vehicle has won the title, the last was back 2003 when the Volvo XC 90 took the honors. Interestingly, the only other European SUV to ever win North American Truck of the Year was the first generation Mercedes ML back in 1998, recognized as a game changer in the segment, much as the Evoque is today.

The North American Car and Truck of the Year awards are administered by a group of 50 automotive journalists from both the US and Canada, with the awards financed entirely by member dues (no advertising or commercial support for automakers or auto related businesses is accepted).

See AutoGuide’s complete Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here

Out of all the current 2012 vehicles available, which would you think are the most suitable when it comes to winter driving?

Well, given that the snow, sleet, ice, hard rain and other glorious aspects of winter weather are now with us for the next few months, making motoring conditions rather dicey at times, that’s something the editors  at Kelley Blue Book.com decided to investigate.

When all was said and done, the results of their findings revealed a rather diverse range of vehicles. From cars to minivans, trucks and SUVs, all which shared a common trait, namely a user friendly all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive system, designed to maintain traction under slippery conditions.

According to KBB.com executive editorial director Jack R. Nerad, the top 10 winter driving vehicles were machines that  ”help keep you on the road, whether that journey involves a mundane commute to work or a well-deserved weekend getaway to a favorite ski resort.”

Ranked on the list from 10th place to number one were the following vehicles:

10th Subaru Outback; 9th, Toyota Sienna AWD; 8th, Acura MDX; 7th, Ford F-150 4x 4; 6th, Honda CR-V AWD; 5th, Audi A6 Quattro 3.0T;  4th, Chevrolet Traverse AWD; 3rd, Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2nd, Subaru Impreza.

And the winner? Well perhaps not surprisingly, considering the accolades it’s been receiving since launch last year, was the 2012 Range Rover Evoque.

According to KBB.com, the Evoque not only represents “the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient model to ever grace the Land Rover lineup,” it’s also a highly capable machine both on and off the tarmac thanks to its “intelligent all-wheel drive system, Terrain Response feature and Tri-mode Adaptive Dynamics suspension designed to maintain optimal ride and handling characteristics under all driving situations.”

Click here to read Autoguide’s review of the Range Rover Evoque.

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

If you’ve got a full house, it means that you have a full car. And it probably means that you’ve spent a lot of frustrating time trying to fit three child-safety seats in the back seat of your car. It’s much easier with a minivan, but when you’ve got a car, it can drive you to distraction.

If you’re dead-set against getting a minivan, there are some cars out there that fit three child-safety seats in the back. In order to safely fit three of these seats in the backseat, there must be enough room between the booster seat and safety seat for a child’s hand to reach the seat belt buckle.

Here is a check list of cars that aren’t minivans that can fit three child seats in the back, following the safety specifications listed above:

2012 Honda Pilot
2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
2011 Chrysler 300 and 300C
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2011 Land Rover LR4
2011 Nissan Murano

[Source: Kicking Tires]

News that Jaguar and Land Rover won’t exhibit at this year’s North American International Auto Show can be taken as a sign of the diminished importance the Detroit show now plays on the global stage.

There’s more to this story, however, as the reason the two luxury brands will be absent is due to a conflicting schedule with the Auto Expo show in New Delhi, India. While India’s importance as an emerging market can’t be downplayed, the decision has less to do with growing economies and more to do with the fact that JLR parent company Tata Motors, is from India.

In addition, JLR has little new to show a western audience, having already revealed the Jaguar C-X16 and Land Rover DC100 concepts, first at the Frankfurt Motor Show and then at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

JLR has confirmed that executives will still be cruising the show floor. After all, the Range Rover Evoque is on the shortlist for the 2012 Truck of the Year.

[Source: AutoNews]

See AutoGuide’s complete 2012 Detroit Auto Show Preview here

As the North American International Auto Show looms ever larger on the calendar, so does the annual North American Car and Truck of the Year awards, the winners of which will be announced on January 9th, before the show opens.

This year, finalists for the NACOTY award are the 2012 Ford Focus (shown), Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Passat, while finalists for the North American Truck of the Year award comprise the 2012 BMW X3, Honda CR-V and Range Rover Evoque.

The announcement of the finalists came following a December 15th meeting of the Automotive Press Association. The North American Car of the Year selection process is handled by a panel comprising 50 accredited automotive journalists from the US and Canada.

The 2011 car of the year winner was the Chevrolet Volt.

Over in the United Kingdom, Hertz has teamed up with Premiere Velocity in order to offer their customers the ability to rent some of the world’s finest exotic supercars. The list of exotics being offered is impressive including Lamborghini‘s LP560-4 Bicolore and Aventador, Porsche‘s Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, Ferrari‘s 458 Italia, Range Rover‘s Evoque, Mercedes-Benz‘s Brabus S-Class and SLS AMG Roadster, Rolls-Royce’s Phantom and even McLaren’s MP4.

The full range of cars available is up on Hertz’s website and a 5-percent discount is offered when booking through http://www.hertzsupercars.com. Prices vary, but a C63 AMG for example is £201.25 a day ($314) while an Audi R8 is £362.25 ($565). Hertz wand Premiere will also offer customers with a bespoke meet, greet and delivery system at any agreed location whether it be their home, office, hotel or airport.

The requirements? Enough money, 25-years of age and no more than six points on their driver’s license.

Autocar UK is reporting that Land Rover is currently planning for a bigger Range Rover Evoque model, slotting a vehicle in between the Evoque and its Range Rover Sport sibling. Success of BMW‘s X-models and Audi‘s Q-models has encouraged Land Rover to expand its Range Rover brand.

Possibly called “Grand Evoque”, it should be based on the same LR-MS architecture currently found on the existing Evoque, but Land Rover should be giving it a distinctive aesthetic design of its own to set it apart from the standard Evoque. Stretching the underbody by about 12-inches would give the Grand Evoque plenty of extra room, possibly for a third row of seating.

Speculation also continues with possible powerplants, with the larger Evoque powered by new four-cylinder engines that Jaguar Land Rover is developing. Rumor has it that a 1.8L turbo is in the works capable of producing as much as 170-hp per liter while a diesel variant would be capable of 133-hp per liter. There is also a possibility of a hybrid model for the larger Evoque.

[Source: Autocar UK]

If you’re stuck on what to get the Land Rover enthusiast in your life, why not surprise them with a Land Rover Experience, an ice hat or a collapsible kettle? These are just a few of the new offerings at Land Rover Gear’s online shop.

One of the coolest ideas is the Land Rover Experience. These driving adventures are available in Great Britian and give the lucky recipient the thrill of driving off-road in a Land Rover.  Choose from full or half day courses, or a night drive. Prices range from £195 ($305US) to £365 ($570US) for a full day’s drive.

Great for stocking stuffers, Land Rover also has a collapsible kettle for space-conscious campers, as well as a foldable dog bowl. If you’ve got a little money to burn, you can get the new Land Rover bicycle, with models available for all types of riders. And for the “greenie” on your list, you can wrap up a colorful rug made from recycled yarn.

Check out all the Land Rover holiday ideas at the Land Rover Gear online shop.

Continuing along with the trend of adding awards to its roster, the Range Rover Evoque has been bestowed with another. Top Gear magazine in the UK, has named the baby Rover as it’s “Car of the Year.”

Following the announcement, the Evoque was taken on a “reward trip” across the wilds of North Africa, namely the desert and mountains of Morocco – talk about celebrating in style.

In addition to garnering top honors from the magazine, Top Gear‘s resident  ”motor mouth” Jeremy Clarkson, also labeled the Evoque as his favorite vehicle of the year, beating out such contenders as the Ferrari FF, McLaren MP4-12C and BMW 1 Series M coupe.

[Source: Autoblog]

Startech, a sub-division of famous Mercedes tuning house Brabus, is showing off a custom Range Rover Evoque at this year’s Essen Motor Show. The project originally debuted at the Dubai International Motor Show earlier this month, and has now made its way over to Europe to Essen for its home crowd.

The tuning package from Startech is available for all three- and five-door models of the Evoque and was developed to make the crossover more capable on the road, rather than focusing on the Evoque’s somewhat non-existent off-road capabilities.

For aesthetics, Startech outfits the Evoque with a new front apron, roof wing and rear apron that sports a new rear diffuser and wickedly cool quad exhaust tips. Ride height is lowered by 1.2-inch thanks to a suspension kit while Startech offers a variety of 20- to 22-inch wheels with custom color combos for the client.

On the inside, Startech offers a plethora of custom interior modifications including a sport steering wheel, aluminum pedals, foot rest and shifter, leather upholstery and Alcantara headliner. Startech also announced that they’re working on more horsepower for the 2.0L SI4 powerplant first, and will develop a power kit for the diesel engine shortly thereafter.

For more information and to discuss the Range Rover Evoque, please visit our Range Rover Evoque Forum.

GALLERY: Startech Range Rover Evoque