Tata group firm Land Rover has dispatched "hundreds of prototypes" of its sports utility vehicle Evoque to conduct one of the most rigorous pre-launch testings in some of the toughest conditions across the world.
The Indian company will introduce the SUV -- Range Rover Evoque -- in its list of offerings in 2011 as part of Range Rover's 40th anniversary celebrations.
"The all-new Range Rover Evoque has entered its final phase of testing, with hundreds of prototype models dispatched around the globe for trial in the toughest climates and conditions," the company said in a statement.
Teams of engineers will travel to 20 countries to pit the Range Rover Evoque against the extreme conditions on earth, ranging from the Arctic to the desert, from German autobahns
to Tokyo city traffic, it added.
Early this month, the company had said it will hire 1,000 people at its Halewood facility to produce the SUV next year.
Besides vehicle testings, Land Rover is working with 120 component suppliers and carrying out over 17,000 individual tests to examine every separate part and system.
"The development stage is crucial in the year leading up to launching the car... No stone is left unturned, we have a team of experienced and skilled engineers who will work to a tight schedule to ensure (that) we have a top quality vehicle to offer our customers," Land Rover Director (Programmes) Murray Dietsch said.
Land Rover had said Evoque will be the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient model in the company's portfolio and will be sold in 160 countries across the world.
It has so far received over 10,000 "expressions of interest", both online and in dealerships, for the Evoque since the release of its pictures on July 2.
The Range Rover Evoque will make its global public debut at the Paris Motor Show in September this year.
The company will introduce the new SUV in both 2-wheel drive (2WD) and 4-wheel drive (4WD) options.
In 2WD technology, the transmission is distributed only to either the front or rear two wheels of the vehicle, while it is distributed equally to all the four wheels in 4WD category. For driving in difficult terrains, 4WD is preferred.
Last month the company announced to launch a limited edition of Range Rover, featuring special design elements.
Land Rover had also said it would launch two advanced diesel versions of Range Rover in the UK by September this year. Besides, it had said that its first diesel hybrid SUV would hit the roads by 2013, for which testing of the
prototype named 'range_e' would start this year-end.