A common complaint in Evoque-land is that you cannot close the rear hatch remotely, either using the key-fob button or the switch inside the car. The reason why not is of course down the 'elf and safety, the idea being that only someone standing behind the car can know if it's safe to lower the hatch. All fine, except when it's pouring with rain...

Now, over on BabyRR.com, a US owner, Doug, has developed a circuit which, with just 3 connections to the car, implements this function.

Yesterday, I replicated his ideas using my own circuit design and it works fine. Question is, is this needed on the RRS as well?

So, could someone with the new RRS tell me two things?

1. Is the car the same as the Evoque, that is, the rear hatch cannot be lowered other than by pressing the switch on the hatch?

2. With the hatch already open, listen carefully, can you hear the latch motor run for about half a second when you press the button on the remote - you might hear a couple of clicks?

If so, then the same idea will work and will be a worthwhile enhancement. Mark

SVR in Estoril Blue

The new RRS has a button just below the steering wheel that opens and closes the rear hatch, as well as a button in the key fob and the one on the hatch itself. Seems pretty comprehensive to me and all work fine on my HSE.

Thank you, interesting that it closes the hatch as well, only opens it on the Evoque. they have obviously listened to their customers for once. Mark

SVR in Estoril Blue

Yes, only opens on the first gen Sport too.

I bet it doesn't use the reverse park sensors and/or tail camera to stop one opening it into a wall though.  

Mark_N wrote:

Thank you, interesting that it closes the hatch as well, only opens it on the Evoque. they have obviously listened to their customers for once.

It's a small box with an electronic circuit inside mounted inside the tailgate with three connections to the push switch, the latch motor and ground. Designing the electronics requires the expertise but installing such a thing would be straight-forward for those who, for example, have ever fitted a car radio.

Out of respect for the guy who came up with the idea (see Modifications on babyrr.com), I will not be making them, but he might! Mark

SVR in Estoril Blue

My 2012 RRS is exactly the same, it can only be closed by pressing the switch on the tailgate.  2014 L405 SDV8 RR Autobiography

2012 RRS SDV6 HSE -Orkney Grey with A/B bodykit - Now Gone
2007 RRS TDV6 HSE - Zermatt Silver - Gone

Mark_N wrote:

It's a small box with an electronic circuit inside mounted inside the tailgate with three connections to the push switch, the latch motor and ground. Designing the electronics requires the expertise but installing such a thing would be straight-forward for those who, for example, have ever fitted a car radio.

Out of respect for the guy who came up with the idea (see Modifications on babyrr.com), I will not be making them, but he might!

It was a complaint from 2012, but something I reported on being a massive improvement, from button and remote the boot now auto closes... Mike

2014 Facelift Discovery

It might very well be the same solution would work for a pre 2014 RRS providing the release latch clicks even when the tailgate is up. The only downside is a delay of about 1 second between pressing the button and the tailgate beginning to close. Mark

SVR in Estoril Blue