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INSIDER.Sliding a 621kW Mustang around LAKen Block’salternative guide todowntowncitydriving, Gymkhana-style621kW and noforcedinduction‘I don’t needcrazypower,just useablepower. I like450-600kWanda broadspreadofpower. [Someengines] givepeaky powerin a narrowrange, but theV8is flexible with greatthrottle response. Youcanbabyit aroundon thetorquebut there’s alotofhorsepower whenyouneedit.’03A super-softset-up‘Thesuspension set-upis key. I like todrive myGymkhana cars like youwoulda rally carona gravelstage. Theset-up is soft sothe carmoves around, youget more dramatic weighttransferandit’s easytobreak the wheels loose.When Ibrake hard therearend goeslight andI cansetitinto adrift pretty easily.’02Playground LA‘It takes aproductioncompanywith movie-makingexperience topulloff something likeGymkhana 7. They’vegotgreatscouts, tofindlocationsandwork withthe authorities tomakeit happen.LuckilyI don’thave todoany ofthat. Iget toscriptthe run withmyteam, andthentodrive it. It’s two-part funfor me.’01Handbrake orthrottle?‘A bit ofboth. I usethehandbrakewhenI wanttoprecisely place thecar. I useweight transferandthrottle, whichcomesbacktothe set-upandtyres. Pirelli doesn’tmakea drift tyresotheymade meone from oneoftheir performancemoulds using ourcompound.’04All-wheel drive‘It’s a4wd powertrainwith acentrediff thatdisengagesthe reardrive whenI usethehandbrake, soI canlockthe rearwheels withoutlockingupthe engine. Ican drive aroundwith thehandbrakeonif I want.It’s a three-pedalset-up.For filming Idon’t left-footbrake but if I’m racingfortime I’ll doit.’05Minimal clocks‘Theimportant dials areenginetempandrpms- there’s nospeedo.Themain thing is enginetemp. The cardoesn’tget alot ofairflowbecausethere’s not alotofhigh-speed work, sowe’re always concernedwith keeping the enginesafe. This is the first VonaGymkhanacar– it’sa greatengine.’In the moment1Rooflessstreak– puristsmay tut,but the EvoqueConvertible’s settosatethe appetites ofthosefor whomSUVcoupes aren’t sufficiently flamboyant. LandRover may justbeaheadofthe curveinthis premium niche.2Lessis more– soheartyis there-engineering –strengthened floor,new windscreensurround, sturdierdoors –the cabrio has greatertorsionalrigiditythan the three-door, albeit witha near- 28 0kg weight penalty. 4WD andnine-speed autostandard, 177kWpetrol or140kWdiesel engines.3Hoodwinked– Remember the2012 concept’s rigid tonneaucover?It’s vanished.Instead,the largestfabricroofin production concertinasbehind the seats, itsfront thirdserving alsoasa vanitypanel. Onlyfourseats here, withaninconveniently-narrow letterbox bootopening out back.4Spring sale– prices are yettobeconfirmedbut it’s not going tobecheap. You canexpectprices tobebe northof R900 000whenit arrives inshowrooms in thesecond quarter of 20 16.NEW CARDEBRIEF > RANGE ROVER EVOQUE CONVERTIBLE06