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THIS IS THE handsome new Range Rover Velar. The mid-sized luxury SUV slots in between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport for size and price.
The Velar badge first appeared on the 1969 Range Rover prototypes. This was a cover name and a way of making sure competitors didn’t discover that Land Rover were planning a luxury off-roader. The name is quite fitting as it is Latin for ‘to veil’.
This is the fourth model in the luxury SUV marque’s lineup but it doesn’t use the same platform as the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. It actually uses the same aluminium architecture as the Jaguar F-Pace, however the Velar is longer. The Velar has a 2,874mm wheelbase – as a comparison the Evoque wheelbase is 2,660mm and the Range Rover Sport has a wheelbase of 2,923mm.
And whilst the Velar is unmistakably a Range Rover in looks it has some new design features that are specific to the model, such as the super-slim Matrix Laser-LED headlights, the slimmest headlight clusters ever fitted to a production Land Rover vehicle.
The buzz word for this model is ‘reductionism’ with Land Rover claiming the design of the exterior and interior was driven by this concept. And indeed the cabin looks spacious and elegant with neat hidden-until-lit controls which add to the uncluttered feel. The main feature is two 10-inch screens integrated behind black panels that are kept ‘secret-until-lit’.
Also on offer, as an alternative to leather, is a new, sustainable, and vegetarian friendly Dapple Grey material that was developed in conjunction with Kvadrat, Europe’s leading manufacturer of high-quality design textiles. (Of course, you can have your Velar covered in cowhide if you so choose.)
There are six engines in the line-up – three petrols and three diesels – ranging from D180 to P380 and this new badging indicates fuel type and max horsepower. All engines are matched to ZF eight-speed automatic transmissions with all-wheel drive and Intelligent Driveline Dynamics.
A range of 13 exterior colours is available and eight distinctive wheel designs ranging from 18 to 22 inches with a choice of four finishes. Standard models are fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels.
Whilst Irish trim levels haven’t been confirmed yet, the Velar comes in the following trims: Velar (2.0-litre D180 only), S, SE, HSE, R-Dynamic S, R-Dynamic SE, R-Dynamic HSE and a limited First Edition. The First Edition will be available for one model year only and powered solely by the 3.0-litre V6 petrol and diesel engines and has a whole host of extra features as standard.
The Velar goes on sale in the summer although Irish prices have yet to be confirmed, however, as the Evoque starts at €41,745 and the Sport starts at €74,585 we could be looking at a €60,000 price tag for the Velar.
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Historically, it was always considered notable how common it was for Irish women to fight alongside men. This can likely be traced back to Brehon Law attitudes that tended to hold women in equal regard to men in Ireland since time immemorial. Then the Catholic Church entered the frame and 3,500 years of equality unravelled in a matter of months, but Irish attitudes often remained.
It took Ireland centuries to convert, and even so they were not Catholic.
Catholicism came with the Normans in 1169. In fact, it was a large part of their casus belli that the Irish were part of the “Celtic Church”, and needed to be brought under the fold.
What also remains is the blaming of the Catholic Church for everything….. probably from British rule and people’s slavish deference to their media.
Firstly, no Catholic Church, early Christian Church conversion.
Secondly, same in rest of the world.
Thirdly, people choose to treat women in a certain way. Men chose wrong here for decades.
Fourthly, Ireland is one of the best countries to be a woman in, according to the Oecd.
A lot of the women and men of the 1916-1921 period were ignored by our governments for years.
The only people who turned up at 1916 commomerations were overweight special branchers with handicams filming “republicans” while junkies were injecting themselves and harrassing people.
Way to go.
First comment turns the forum into a Catholic bashing exercise.
I’m actually with Oran on this one. It was the industrial revolution that fixed the ideas on women that we have. The Church only provided a mechanism, as it did everywhere, Catholic or not.
Liam knew once he bashed the Catholic Church, even though he was wrong, he was bound to get green thumbs…
@liam. What you say is true. De Valera even had our fighting women air-brushed from photographs. Hardly surprising – Sure didn’t he allow McQuaid to dictate our constitution & enslaved us into the Catholic Church to replace Britain.
Oran, I think it’s fair to say that the Catholic church did nothing to rectify the inequality for many centuries, and continues in that fine tradition today. So you can call it bashing if you like, but at best they’re collaborators with a bad culture, but we all know they helped to keep women in their supposed place.
@declan madsen – The Catholic Church kept everyone in their place. All children were intimidated by Catholicism from an early age & most up to 20yrs ago, in their adulthood as well.
We could do with a few of these determined women about the place today.
Great idea, but sorry to see their partners unrecognised when they served side by side. Kathleen Lynn and Madeleine Ffrench-Mullen and Elizabeth O’Farrell and Shelia (Julia) Grennan – “Eirebrushed” our play on 1916 lesbian and gay heroes is on in Players Theatre TCD May 2-7th 730pm http://www.gaytheatre.ie
Specifying some theatre as “gay” seems superfluous; wouldn’t “straight theatre” be more unusual and unique realistically?
Happily not just as Irish or American is equally valid. It’s our 13th season heading past 3500 performances and companies from 5 continents who see its relevance, importance and artistic identity. Pop along in May!
Here’s why you’ll see these women on buses all over Ireland
(but you won’t see them underneath them)
Trying too hard Oran. Show some respect
It’s not doing Anything for Anybody. What’s the Point. Surely we can invest money in things for people.
I’d recognise David Rooneys artwork anywhere. Stunning as always.
Pearce was a woman
Mná na hÉireann…like omg lol
See the pols where around in 1916 too
have your say