I must admit to having been somewhat underwhelmed by the performance of the Park Heat on my car on the few occassions I have tried to use it since January and was interested to read on the Evoque spec sheet that the heater will be something rather unusual and having its first outing in an SUV with the Evoque. It's called a Positive Temperature Coefficient Heater - and is very small, doesn't require the coolant to get warm before you get heat into the car and will probably drain the battery as quickly as Park Heat does............... It's basically a 21st century version of a domestic fan heater heater that has a ceramic element in it - which instantly gives off heat - no diesel fuel needed whatsoever
http://www.dbk-usa.com/ptc-heaters/about-ptcs 2018 Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 PHEV in Melting Silver - it’s whisper quiet in EV and polluter modes

Last edited by Tim in Scotland on 14th Apr 2011 9:15am. Edited 1 time in total

Been available at Maplins and on Ebay for ages , nice to see TATA going with he flow  Far to many gone...

Been standard on diesel golfs from at least 2007, quite good and only runs when the engine is on

Basically a heating element in an air duct so you get hot(ish) air in return for a huge alternator load

Like the idea of having instant heat in the cabin, would be a good addition. Though I thought the park heat was also designed to warm the engine block aiding cold starting etc for diesel engine?

I also read the manual and discovered what you all probably know already, the park heat remote is also good in the summer on hot days as it works in reverse i.e. cooling the car. Guess it just starts the fans without the heater. All just based on ambient temperature. Anyway nice to know for me as didn't before.

It's going to be a booster rather than a standard heater though I believe?

Interestingly the freelander has used the same tech (ok not a ceramic plate, but an aux electric air-heater), since the TD4 was launched in 2001! 

On a golf at least it runs when the coolant is below 60 degrees or so and if the heater control is set to full