Land Rover christens the Evoque as a "cross-coupé", and the car will be the first in Land Rover's history to be offered with front-wheel-drive only, with full-time four-wheel-drive available as an option. A five-door version is also in the works, but the three-door Evoque will be the first to go on sale.

The interior of the Evoque is flushed with new-age luxury, upholstered in leather with "twin needle" stitching. Modern technology such as the Terrain Response system, a Jaguar-esque transmission shift knob and MP3 connectivity abound throughout the Evoque's cabin.

There is also the optional dual-view 8-inch screen which allows driver and passenger to see different projections on the monitor. Audio will be provided via a 17-speaker Meridian system with 825 watts, and a glass panoramic roof further enhances the space-age effect.

The Evoque will be available with a number of powerplants, all of which come with Start/Stop technology for better efficiency, as well as a cleaner electronic power-assisted steering. There are two four-cylinder 2.2-litre turbo diesel engines to choose from, producing either 150bhp or 190bhp.

As for the petrol version, there is the Evoque Si4 2.0, which has direct injection, turbo charging, and variable valve timing. Land Rover has not released the power output figures of the 2.0-litre petrol engine, but claims that it is able to go from 0-100km/h in 7.1 seconds.

The Evoque will have a MagneRide suspension setup which is said to give it sporty yet comfortable handling. Land Rover program director Murray Dietsch says that they've "tuned the Range Rover Evoque's chassis and Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) to deliver precise and responsive steering at lower speeds, making the car nimble and fun to drive."

Three trim levels will be offered for the Evoque at launch, with the base Pure level coming with soft-touch materials, and aluminium trim. The next level, Prestige, adds 19-inch wheels and numerous leather applications. The top-of-the-range Dynamic comes with 20-inch wheels, sports seats and unique exterior bits such as bumpers, grille and spoilers with contrasting colours, among others. A hybrid Evoque is also in the works.

Land Rover's CEO Ralf Speth says of the Evoque, "These are exciting times for our business. Not only will the Range Rover Evoque increase our worldwide market share, it helps to define a new segment for premium compact SUVs that are more sporting and stylish."