The 2020 Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Velar and the Jaguar I-Pace all sport seamless door handles. These door handles retract into the door panels when the car is off and doors are locked; creating a seamless side. This design, was actually a request from Tata Motors, reports Jalopnik.
During a media presentation, Range Rover Chief Design Officer Gerry McGovern, revealed that the seamless door handles was first requested by Tata Motors back in 2012. As per the Design Chief, it was a special request from Tata Motors. Work began in 2012, and it took the designers four years to complete. In 2016, the seemless door handles from JLR, made global debut with the I-Pace Concept.
The designers had to take into account varying climatic conditions and ensured that the door handles did not face any difficulties in freezing temperatures. The need for this design paved the way to move ahead of other automakers that scooped out dents in the door panels for traditional handles. Their efforts have paid off. The seamless kind is definitely classier and adds a touch of luxury to the vehicle.
But JLR is not the first one to incorporate such a style of door handles. In fact, there have been quite a few cars in the past who have had such style. For example, Subaru XT, 1971 Ambassador, 1955 Zagato, and even the Range Rover models from 70s. But compared to those seen on older cars, the ones on offer today with JLR cars, are quite advanced and look much more premium.
The latest car to get the seamless door handles, is the 2020 Range Rover Evoque. It was launched internationally in February 2019 and will be making its way to India by the end of this year. Test mules have been spied in the country. It is more attractive than the current Evoque. Design updates include an aluminum finished grille, sleek headlamps, flared wheel arches and of course the flush door handles. The new Evoque gets a sloping roofline and chunky bumper at the rear along with twin exhaust pipes. 2020 Range Rover Evoque will be powered by a 2.0 liter, 4 cylinder petrol engine offering 249 PS power with a mild hybrid 48 volt motor offering combined output of 300PS.
Jaguar will also be launching the all electric I-Pace in India, which will be the first battery electric vehicle from the brand in the country. It uses twin electric motors positioned on each axle delivering 400hp and 695 Nm allowing for acceleration from 0 to 100 in 4.6 seconds. Jaguar I-Pace will take on other luxury EV SUVs such as Mercedes-Benz EQC and the Audi e-tron.
