The Range Rover Velar has made its debut just before the Geneva Motor Show and the new Rangie will go on sale in the European markets from mid-2017. The Velar is an all-new SUV and will fill up the space between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport making it the fourth Range Rover model in the current line-up. Here is a rundown upon all that you need to know about the Range Rover Velar which should ideally come to India by the end of 2017 or at the Auto Expo 2018.
Architecture and Styling
The Range Rover Velar has been built on the new iQ-AI platform built together by Jaguar Land Rover. The Jaguar F-Pace that was launched last year has also been built on the same aluminium-infused light-weight that is much lighter and has higher dynamic capabilities.
On the styling front, the Velar is just like every other Range Rover – big but suave. The fascia is daunting with the high mounted honey-mesh grille and the sweptback signature Range Rover headlamps. The bi-Xenon LED headlamps get the signature LED daytime running lamps. The profile is typical Rangie with big doors, a distinct shoulder line that extends all the way to the back and the blacked out pillars and roof. It gets the large 22-inch wheels filling up the flared arches and the upswept rear overhang complemented by the sloping roof and the raked D-pillar.
The tail section of the Velar is unique and unlike other Range Rovers. It still carries the square LED elements in the tail lamps but they are horizontally stacked. The rear spoiler and the creased tailgate add to the visual drama of the sporty SUV.
Interior and Equipment
Land Rover has always kept their interiors minimalist and simple. They do get all the creative comforts that you need to pamper yourself but packaged in an understated manner. To start with it gets the new state-of-art Touch-Pro Duo infotainment system. The two touchscreens are stacked one below the other on the central waterfall console and cater to every need starting from vehicle management to navigation to telephony et al. Like your smartphone, you can swipe, pinch to zoom and touch-scroll to navigate through the menus. Similarly, even the instrument cluster behind the multi-function steering wheel is a TFT screen.
The dual-tone dashboard is wrapped in leather and is split by a recess that doubles up as cubby holes and also houses the AC vents. The five-seater SUV gets a panoramic sunroof, individual zone climate control, power adjustable front seats and reclining seats in the back as well. The door trims gets brushed aluminium inserts that blend in with the Meridian speakers. The key to the Velar can be worn as a wristband, allowing you to move freely without the fear of losing the key fob.
Engine and Gearbox
The Range Rover Velar gets an array of advanced driver-assistance systems is fitted as standard or offered as optional equipment. Along with the standard driving aids, you get Autonomous Emergency Braking to avoid rear-ending of the vehicle ahead, Lane departure Warning et al.
With an approach angle of up to 28.89 degrees, breakover angle of up to 23.5 degrees, a departure angle of up to 29.5 degrees and a maximum wading depth of 650mm the Velar is a capable off-roader. It gets an intelligent and efficient torque on-demand all-wheel-drive (AWD) system along with Land Rover’s famous Terrain Response system that allows the driver to adjust vehicle settings to suit prevailing surface conditions, with a choice of Eco, Comfort, Grass-Gravel-Snow, Mud-Ruts, Sand, and Dynamic mode.
The entry-level Velar, when it comes to India, will get the 247bhp/365Nm petrol engine from the Jaguar XE along with the 237bhp Ingenium diesel that develops 500Nm of torque. Like the F-Pace, the Velar will also get the 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine that develops 295bhp of power and a whopping 700Nm of torque – one of the highest in its class. If you are a petrol purist you might get the 3.0-litre supercharged petrol V6 option that develops 385bhp of power and 450Nm of torque. All the engines will come mated to the eight-speed automatic gearboxes and drive all-four wheels through the highly efficient torque-on demand-systems.
Price and Competition
The Range Rover Velar will sit between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport which means a price tag ranging between Rs 80 lakh to Rs 90 lakh ex-showroom, Delhi. It will be positioned above the Jaguar F-Pace for sure and should ideally undercut the upcoming new Land Rover Discovery which might undercut the Sport to start with.
At the Rs 80 lakh price tag, you can get yourself the Mercedes GLS, the BMW X5, the Volvo XC90 R-Design (whenever it comes) and the Audi Q7. While most of these are top-of-the-line seven-seaters from the competition, hardly any one of them might be able to match the Velar’s capabilities.
