Automotive Einstein

It’s not unusual for a Four Seasons vehicle to enjoy something of a honeymoon — a blissful period before the daily grind exposes its every last design flaw. That said, the early praise for the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque has been particularly effusive.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque – Four Seasons Update – May 2012 – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque – Four Seasons Update – May 2012 – Automobile Magazine

The Land Rover Discovery has made a very slow journey from its original incarnation in 1989 to today’s 2012 model; over 23 years, with one major redesign and two minor ones, it feels like not all that much has changed. And that’s for the better. We still have the very cool asymmetrical rear window, the go-anywhere ability, and the seven-seat passenger capability. Sadly, the rearmost seats have yet to change much, and still use an archaic and counter-intuitive operation to raise and lower. Despite the air suspension (added to the third-generation car), the Land Rover still feels very top-heavy and is susceptible to cross winds. What has changed include things like the U.S.-spec nomenclature (now LR4, after LR3 replaced Discovery), the heavily reworked interior that brings the LR4 well upscale with premium hides and soft-touch materials, and a powerful 5.0-liter V-8 engine. That V-8 sounds delicious – but it’s the only engine option; combine the awkward third row and V-8-only powertrain and the Land Rover’s mid-size offering becomes a hard sell against crossovers like the Audi Q7 and BMW X5 which offer multiple engine options.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Land Rover LR4 – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Land Rover LR4 – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine

This magazine has taken a rather hard line when it comes to the subset of premium crossovers best identified as “swoopy sporty things.” We gave lukewarm reviews to our departed Four Seasons Infiniti EX35 and Acura ZDX, despite their strong driving dynamics and solid reliability, because we simply could not figure out what purpose they served better than existing alternatives. The promise of a sporty car, an SUV, and a luxury sedan wrapped into one vehicle seems to add up to poor headroom and a higher price than you’d pay for an equivalent car or crossover.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque – Four Seasons Introduction – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque – Four Seasons Introduction – Automobile Magazine

I chauffeured two of my colleagues on a two-hour drive to West Branch, Michigan, piloting the Range Rover Sport and I could not have been happier. The interior is sumptuously luxurious but not so plush as to throw any sporting intentions out the window. The car’s design — both inside and out — is tastefully restrained, clearly showing its premium Range Rover roots without being overly flashy. Yes, a faster processor for the infotainment system would be appreciated, but there were no “play with me” dials or touch pads and zero “look at me” trim bits. Also just right is the RR Sport’s size — it’s neither too large nor unwieldy, and it isn’t too small as to not feel reasonably substantial on any road surface. The 5.0-liter V-8 has a sonorous burble and sounds wicked under heavy throttle. Better yet, the V-8 is matched perfectly with the six-speed automatic, which is silky smooth and nearly imperceptible in its shifting. Best of all, the RR Sport comes with the prestige of the Range Rover name while still undercutting its V-8-powered competition from Porsche and BMW.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Range Rover Sport HSE – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Range Rover Sport HSE – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine

The future of the Land Rover Defender may be a little in flux, but British custom shop Prindiville Design knows exactly what it wants to do with its special-edition Land Rover Defender 90. In fact, the company says it will build only 25 examples of the tricked-out SUV.

Photo Gallery: First Look: Limited Edition Land Rover Defender – Automobile Magazine

At long last, the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet may have a competitor. Land Rover is apparently showing a Range Rover Evoque Convertible concept at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in early March.

Photo Gallery: First Look: Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible Concept – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Look: Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible Concept – Automobile Magazine

As a designer, Gerry McGovern is rather like American muscle cars of yore: neither handles curves too well, but give them a straight line and there’s no catching them. His MGF roadster and various Lincoln concepts were less than convincing, but his multiple off-road designs have been outstanding. From the highly successful Land Rover Freelander — Europe’s four-by-four best-seller from 1997 to 2002 — to the terrific Range Rover Evoque, his Land Rover designs are winners. His grasp of how to modulate the surfaces of a box-shaped mass to make it attractive eludes most designers.

Photo Gallery: By Design: Land Rover DC100 Sport – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: By Design: Land Rover DC100 Sport – Automobile Magazine