Range Rover Evoque is BBC TopGear Magazine Car Of The Year

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BBC TopGear Magazine has named the new Range Rover Evoque as their 2011 Car of the Year. The Evoque came top in the SUV category of the annual awards and was also picked by TopGear TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson as his favourite new car this year.

Sydney, 12 January, (PressReleasePoint)

​The Evoque beat stiff competition from the BMW 1 Series M, Mclaren MP4 12c, Ferrari FF, VW Up! and Kia Picanto to scoop the coveted Car of the Year title. The awards are officially announced in the December issue of BBC TopGear Magazine, which is on sale in the UK now. With 29 international editions, BBC TopGear is read by an estimated 12 million people worldwide.

To celebrate the award, TopGear took a Range Rover Evoque on an African adventure through the souks, deserts and mountain passes of Morocco to fully experience the superb all-round capability and outstanding performance offered by this year's winning car. The full story is featured alongside the Car of the Year Awards in all 29 international editions of the magazine.

The judging panel, headed up by BBC TopGear Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Charlie Turner, comprised members of the magazine's editorial and road testing team, together with the three TopGear TV presenters, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.

Commenting on the awards, Turner said: "Judging the TopGear Magazine cars of the year takes a lot of time, coffee and shouting. But, strangely, when it came to the choosing the overall winner, the yelling softened to agreement. Universal approval from the most opinionated minds in the industry is almost unheard of. Which gives you some idea of just how good the Range Rover Evoque, TopGear’s 2011 Car of the Year, really is."

As well as triumphing in the SUV and overall Car of the Year categories, the Evoque was also chosen by presenter Jeremy Clarkson as his personal choice for Car of the Year. Summing up his decision, he says:"There have been many great cars launched over the last 12 months....But these are just one-trick ponies.

The Evoque is more than that. Its a pony that is also a racehorse, a shire horse, a dray horse, a show jumper and an easy rosette-winner in the dressage competition. Its brilliant. And its the Top Gear Car of the Year."

The Top Gear Award represents the 34th international award for the Range Rover Evoque since its launch earlier this year. Land Rover Global Brand Director, John Edwards, welcomed the news saying:

"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. 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 testament to the skill and commitment of the design and engineering teams in delivering a vehicle that meets the original product vision.

The TopGear Magazine Award is certainly one of the most coveted titles in the industry and we are naturally extremely pleased and excited that Evoque has been crowned overall Car of the Year 2011."

The Evoque has this month also been recognised by a number of external industry bodies in the UK including Euro NCAP, who awarded a 5* safety rating and Glass's and CAP Monitor who have predicted outstanding residual values. The Vehicle Certification Agency has also awarded the Evoque LCA certification for the comprehensive lifecycle analysis study carried out by Land Rover's environment and sustainability team.

For further information please contact:
James Scrimshaw
Public Affairs Department
Land Rover Australia
Website: www.landrover.com.au

Tim Krieger
Brand Manager
Land Rover Australia
Website: www.landrover.com.au