2018 Range Rover Velar: World Debut in London
LONDON, England – Land Rover lifted the veil on its new Range Rover Velar during the world debut at London’s Design Museum. Fourth member of the Range Rover family, the Velar fits between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport, and will arrive at Canadian dealerships this summer as a 2018 model with a starting price of $62,000.
Developed on a platform shared with the Jaguar F-PACE, this new model’s architecture relies heavily on aluminum and features a reductionist design. At its unveiling, Gerry McGovern, Land Rover’s Chief Design Officer, declared: “We call the Velar the avant-garde Range Rover. It brings a new dimension of glamour, modernity and elegance to the brand. The Range Rover Velar changes everything.”
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The Velar features ultra-balanced proportions, and the beltline, which rises from front to back, has a dynamic quality that’s enhanced by the 22-inch alloy rims offered on the high-end versions.
There’s no doubt that the style is top drawer, with this admixture of the brand’s classic codes, such as the floating roof and the clamshell hood, and more modern elements like flush door handles, thin LED headlights and the 3D look of the taillights. The Velar’s contemporary design also provides aerodynamic efficiency to the tune of a 0.32 drag coefficient—the best score ever obtained by one of the brand’s vehicles.
A sanctuary on wheels
The passenger compartment design is very stripped-down to create the impression of a sanctuary on wheels, with the controls and switches reduced to their simplest expression. Instead of a central console filled with a series of buttons, the Velar is offering the new InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system. It is comprised of two 10-inch high-definition touchscreens that display the tactile controls when your hand approaches them. This very minimalist design helps create a serene environment and gives the Velar an almost Scandinavian feel.
Leather upholstery is on tap, but Land Rover is also offering fabric upholstery—a first for the segment—developed in tandem with textile manufacturer Kvadrat. The Velar also comes with six airbags and a series of electronic driving aids, including autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The 40/20/40-split rear bench ensures the Velar’s versatility, while the cargo capacity is rated at 558 litres with all the seats in place. Note that the liftgate can be opened by a simple movement of the foot under the rear bumper.
The Velar lineup includes eight versions brought to life by two engines. The first is the Ingenium 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel with 180 horsepower and 318 lb.-ft. of torque, which allows the Velar to sprint from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in 8.9 seconds. A supercharged, 3.0-litre V6 generates 380 horsepower and a torque peak of 332 lb.-ft., dropping the Velar’s 0-100 km/h time to 5.7 seconds.
These engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox developed by the manufacturer ZF and a Terrain Response all-wheel drive system that helps calibrate the vehicle handling according to the type of surface you’re driving on. Versions with turbo-diesel engines are equipped with a conventional suspension, while those powered by the V6 have an air suspension that provides increased ground clearance. Towing capacity is estimated at 2500 kilograms with the V6 engine, and the Velar is fitted with Advanced Tow Assist that makes backing up easier by allowing the driver to guide the vehicle via the infotainment system’s rotary dial.
The Range Rover Velar will be available this summer, ranging in price from $62,000 for the Velar with a turbo-diesel engine to $95,000 for the Velar First Edition with the supercharged V6, fully loaded and featuring three exclusive colours: Corris Grey, Silicone Silver and Flux Silver.
The addition of this fourth model to the Range Rover family should help the brand continue the momentum begun by the arrival of the entry-level Evoque. The first official launch of the new Ranger Rover Velar will take place next week at the Geneva Auto Show.
