2012 Range Rover Evoque Breaks Cover

LONDON — The first image of the compact 2012 Range Rover Evoque, which is spun off the 2008 LRX concept car, was released on Thursday ahead of the vehicle's official debut at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.

The Evoque will go on sale in the summer of 2011 in more than 160 countries.

It is described as the "smallest, lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever." Details such as powertrain were not revealed. The automaker said it will be available in four-wheel-drive and two-wheel-drive configurations. Its name is said to be "cosmopolitan, cross-continental and sophisticated."

"The all-new Range Rover Evoque marks a bold evolution of Range Rover design, providing customers with a desirable, premium and compact carlike SUV," said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover design director, in a statement. "In 2008 we introduced the LRX concept car: After a positive reception worldwide, the natural step for the business was to turn the LRX concept car into reality."

Design cues include a "falling roof and rising waistline," according to the automaker. The Evoque is intended to "appeal to a wider audience," according to Land Rover.

Inside Line says: The Evoque is bound to be polarizing, especially to longtime customers of the tony brand. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent