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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