By Jamie White – Head of Communications

Land Rover has released an exclusive underground testing film, confirming the world’s first premium compact SUV convertible – Range Rover Evoque Convertible – will go on sale in 2016.

Forty metres below the streets of London, the first prototype of Land Rover’s drop-top was granted exclusive access to the 26-mile network of Crossrail tunnels for a development test with a difference. Engineers were allowed the opportunity to drive the disguised Evoque Convertible with its roof lowered in complete privacy.

The short film begins with the highly-capable convertible being lowered into the tunnel network by crane, before negotiating a range of obstacles through the 6.2 metre diameter tunnel.

Murray Dietsch, Director of Land Rover Programmes, said: “The tunnels are still under construction, so we had a unique opportunity to explore the vehicle’s all-terrain ability in unchartered territory.”

Land Rover will announce further details about its exclusive new premium compact SUV Convertible later this year. It will be built alongside the five-door and coupe Evoque at Land Rover’s Halewood plant in the UK and will be on sale in 2016.

You can watch the exclusive video here.