Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
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.
Bernie…Bernie come back ..we’re sorry don’t leave us with this muppit….
@David cotter: if it was Bernie v Trump…then Trump would definitely win…. he’ll probably win anyway but Bernie would make it a certainty.
@SFAnkleTapper: Trump would disagree with you. He’s on tape as saying Sanders would have beat him in 2016 and a lot of Trump voters would have voted for Sanders also.
@SFAnkleTapper: What on earth are you talking about? Every single recent poll has Bernie Sanders and Biden both beating Trump in a general election. Not even Fox News has Trump winning.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-general/
@Benedict XVI: would they be the same polls that had Hillary as a shoe in? Btw I’m no Trump supporter.
@Corporate capitalism is killing us: your actually using Trump as a basis for a credible story….
@SFAnkleTapper: Biden is a bumbling clown who needs to retire, check his gaffes on YouTube. Bernie would be far stronger them sleepy Joe.
@SFAnkleTapper: Biden’s greatest strength is that it is Trump he is going to be running against. Trump makes Biden’s weaknesses less blatant and Biden is a clear contrast to the type of president Trump is. If it was Biden competing against any other candidate, then I wouldn’t bet on Biden. But with Trump anything is possible (both for Trump and against Trump).
@Benedict XVI: Don’t believe those polls and don’t be taking it too serious. You are most likely going to be disappointed when the results come in.
@SFAnkleTapper: Even though it hurts me to say this,i agree with you in saying that Biden has a much better chance than Bernie.Where I won’t agree with you is dissing the polls that Benedict put up,Trump is not up against Hillary this time.Also,he’ll struggle in the Rust Belt..
@Corporate capitalism is killing us: brilliant, Trump saying that was to try to further divide a very fractured democrat party not an actual acknowledgement that he could have lost.
@David cotter: Bernie is from Ireland? Or do you watch the West wing too much
I thought Democrats where bad when they selected Hillary Clinton as there presidential candidate 4 years but they’ve really outdone themselves this time round
America always gets the politicians it deserves.
@David Shiels: This is a recurring theme for you, am I right? For the record, I like Joe Biden. I would have preferred Bernie.
@David Shiels: Like us? Haughy, Cowan, Ahern, Adams etc.
@Kevin O’ Brienhttps://youtu.be/-rUvUxynOgk
@Macus Mc Mahon: ok
Sanders making a habit of giving up. His voters must be p*ssed off at this.
The only way Biden will win is if he has a decent vice president nomination or if the trump brigade give up on their chosen one. Biden has completely lost the left and continues to put his foot in it further.
@Gerald OBrien the left have lost themselves
have your say