BBC's TopGear Magazine recently announced the winner of its 2011 Car of the Year award - the Range Rover Evoque. The small SUV is the newest addition to Land Rover's lineup, and in its first year on the market, it has won 33 other awards. TopGear's editorial and road-test staff teamed up with Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond - the hosts of the TopGear TV program - to pick this year's winner.
"The Range Rover Evoque has generated an unprecedented response in all of our global markets and has been particularly successful in attracting new customers to the Land Rover brand," said John Edwards, global brand director for Land Rover. "The TopGear Car of the Year award is further recognition that the Evoque offers a unique combination of distinctive premium design and outstanding performance underpinned by Land Rover's legendary all-terrain capability. The car's success is a testament to the skill and commitment of the design and engineering teams in delivering a vehicle that meets the original product vision."
The vehicle offers impressive handling and a number of different drive modes suitable for practically any road conditions. It also comes standard with a number of active safety systems, such as an electronic tire pressure monitoring system and an all-disc brake system. Improved safety technology can lower the risk of crashes, but regular auto maintenance will still be needed to keep the Evoque running well.