Land Rover has confirmed the world’s first premium compact SUV convertible will go on sale in 2016.

Engineers were allowed the opportunity to drive the disguised Evoque Convertible with its roof lowered in complete privacy.

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.”

At its launch in 2011 the five-door Range Rover Evoque was driven through Edge Hill Tunnel in Liverpool, the first tunnel in the world to be bored beneath a major city.

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.