Range Rover Evoque SW1 revealed

This is the Range Rover Evoque SW1, a new special edition revealed by Land Rover ahead of a public debut at next month’s Paris Motor Show. 

Part of a new ‘Inspired by Britain’ series, the Union Flag-inspired SW1 comes in two styles – full colour and Monochrome – and is set to go on sale from the middle of next month, although it won't be available to UK buyers.

Customers will have a choice of five paint schemes in the full colour model, which is based on the top-spec Dynamic trim: Firenze Red, Fuji White, Loire Blue, Santorini Black and Corris Grey. Each one comes with contrasting Fuji White roof and 20-inch alloys, white tick decals (red for Fuji White variants), and Union Flag graphics on the rear spoiler and wing mirrors.

Inside there’s Taurus Ebony leather upholstery for the seats, door inserts, armrests and facia trim, all picked out with Cirrus stitching. An anodised red finish for the rotary shift controller and paddles completes the look for 9-speed automatic models, while manual versions get a themed gearstick insert. The patriotic touches continue on the headrests and carpet mats as well, with the Union Flag colour graphic making its way on to the sill plates and vehicle key in monochrome, too. 

For the SW1 Evoque Monochrome, the graphics and details are unsurprisingly presented in a single colour. Building on entry-level Pure spec, it comes in Santorini Black, Fuji White or Corris Grey, and these last two finishes get a contrast black roof. Once again, Fuji gloss white 20-inch alloys and tick decals feature, alongside Ebony upholstery and anodised red controls inside.

"These special editions are a celebration of our Britishness,” explained Gerry McGovern, Land Rover’s design chief. “Evoque is designed and engineered in Britain and we know that resonates with our global consumers." 

“World first” Head-Up Display

Alongside the new SW1 special edition, Land Rover is now offering the Evoque with an advanced integrated laser Head-Up Display (HUD) – a secondary display designed to project useful info directly on to the windscreen for easier viewing.

This system uses laser holographic tech – a world first according to Jaguar Land Rover – and ensures better “colour saturation, brightness and contrast”, helping reduce ‘washout’ (the effect sunlight glare has on LED systems).

In the Range Rover, the HUD can provide details like road speed, gear position, turn-by-turn navigation, traffic sign recognition, cruise control settings, warnings and the Automatic Cruise Control (ACC) status. It's fully customisable, so all these functions can be switched on or off, with the brightness level and display height also adjustable.

“Jaguar Land Rover's HUD system is an innovative driver information tool, which really pushes the boundaries of advanced laser projection technology," said Murray Dietsch, Director Land Rover Programmes. “It borrows from military technology – which, until now, has been unheard of in the automotive industry.

“By presenting key driver information in this way and removing the need for the driver to look away from the road ahead, HUD is an important step on the journey to delivering Land Rover's vision of the intelligent car of the future."