Everyone recognises Jeremy Clarkson as one of the most critical motoring journalists around. When his recognition of a car in Top Gear’s Awards 2011 is given therefore, it would be a good idea to sit up and take note.
We all know what Jeremy Clarkson was up to on New Year’s Eve. Blogging his views online whilst everyone else was preparing to ring in the New Year, we can be sure that Jeremy was at his most sincere when he posted his Car of the Year winner. Renowned for several things – downright honesty, love of Range Rovers, and scorn for lower-priced models of luxury marques – it was expected that he would be cynical about the Evoque. It is therefore even more of an accolade that he pronounced the Range Rover his Car of 2011.
Ever the perfectionist, Jeremy would only be swayed by a car with a solid foundation of performance. Veneers, however attractive, will just not win over this heart. Everything that you love about the brand has to be present and correct in the model, regardless of the price tag. That is exactly what Jeremy loves about the Evoque; it is a true Range Rover in the only the best of ways. Indeed, one of his highest compliments for the Evoque is because of what it does do for this prestigious marque.
Whilst admiring of the overall package, he alludes to a number of benefits one gets from driving the Evoque. He loves the form. He even respects the decision made to employ Victoria Beckham as style consultant for the Evoque. He loves the function. He is as impressed by its ability as he is by the larger Range Rovers. Most of all he loves how it drives, ‘like a dream’.
He admits that voting was fierce, with some leading marques producing spellbinding cars in 2011. Plenty of noise was created around these releases. Top Gear was able to echo this with their Awards’ nominees. He was particularly keen on the BMW 1M and the Black Series from AMG. It is against such widespread competition that the Evoque has managed to bubble to the heights of celebration.
Always one to incite interest in his readers, not all of his followers generally agree with him, but on this occasion we definitely do. You only have to see an Evoque on the road to believe this. It truly is a car more breathtaking in the flesh. Getting one on self-drive hire is possibly the best way to be left speechless this year, so choose from either our Evoque Coupe pictured above or our Evoque 5 door.