Range Rover Evoque Dakar Rally Racer Revealed
Over a year ago, Excite Rallye Raid Team announced that it would be competing in the Dakar Rally with a race-prepped Range Rover Evoque. The British rally team has unveiled the first photos of its Dakar Rally competitor.
Excite Rallye Raid Team worked in collaboration with RaBe Race Cars on the Range Rover Evoque build that recently went testing in Holland prior to its competition debut at the grueling Dakar Rally. The matte black Evoque has been nicknamed ‘Desert Warrior 3’ and so far in testing, it has performed well according to the team.
“The vehicle has a real presence. It’s very well put-together, it’s strong and rugged,” said professional British driver John Hardy in a release. “The thought and attention to detail is mind-blowing; all the dials are at eye level, all the switches are where they need to be and the space in the cockpit will be critical as we’ll be spending hours strapped in!”
Rather than the factory 2.0-liter turbocharged Ford engine, under the hood is a BMW-sourced 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged diesel engine with 271 hp and a ZF six-speed automatic transmission. It’ll compete on BF Goodrich desert tires while coilover suspension comes courtesy of Reiger. To ensure it lasts the competition, a 69-gallon fuel tank has been installed into the crossover to give it a driving range of around 750 miles.
GALLERY: Excite Rallye Range Rover Evoque
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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