Range Rover Velar is positioned between the entry-level Evoque and the Range Rover Sport; rivals Porsche Macan and BMW X6
The Range Rover family in India has seen expansion of late and it gets a much-awaited new addition in the name of Velar. At the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, it was completely revealed much to the delight of everyone gathered. Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Design Officer, lauded that the finished product stands testament to the passion of Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata and said he was passionate ever since he saw the first sketch of the Velar.
Launched now in multiple variants, it is offered in two diesel and a single petrol engine option. Bookings have already begun and deliveries are set for end of January 2018. Christened to send a shout out to the first Range Rover prototype built back in 1969, the Velar is positioned right in the middle of the entry-level Evoque and the flagship Range Rover Sport. The existing gap is about to be filled in India as the potential takers have always been there – evident from the selling figures of its competitors.
Also Read: 2017 Range Rover Evoque Launched in India Starting from Rs. 49.10 Lakh
Prices start at Rs. 78.83 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base 2.0-litre petrol and diesel variants and it goes all the up to Rs. 1.37 crore (ex-showroom) as we already predicted. What that implies to is a sporty luxury SUV rivalling against the likes of Porsche Macan, the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, BMW X6 and Audi Q7. It is made available in three variants namely Velar S, Velar SE and Velar HSE in each engine option while additionally getting the R-Dynamic and First Edition versions.
Inside, there are two ultra-wide 10-inch touch screens: one for infotainment in upper console and another placed right below. The lower console display retains three physical knobs for operating AC controls and the new infotainment setup called as the “Touch Pro Duo” comes with an Intel quad core processor, high-speed 60GB solid-state drive and ultra-fast Ethernet network. The Range Rover Velar has a dual-tone white and black interior.
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The multi-spoke steering wheel and centre console layout are the same unit as the 2017 Land Rover Discovery with added plush. Matrix-Laser LED Headlights that extend the range of the beam to 550 metres, gesture-controlled power tailgate and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster are other highlights. It has a panoramic glass roof occupying more than three quarters as opposed to the vertical tail lamp cluster, the rear lamps are now horizontal.
On the outside, the Velar is essentially a Evoque up front and Sport on the sides barring the with more rounded and softer lines and rakish roof. Boasted as the avant garde Range Rover which would bring a new dimension of glamour, modernity and elegance to the legendary British marquee, it is hoped to significantly boost sales worldwide.
At 4,803 mm long, 1,930 mm wide and 1,665 mm tall, riding on the same 2,874 mm wheelbase (Evoque: 2,660mm; Range Rover Sport: 2,923mm) and aluminum architecture with the F-Pace, the Velar is smaller than the BMW X6 but bigger than the X4. Claimed to give “exceptional space for all occupants”, the Velar comes with 632 litres of luggage space and can be extended to 1,731 litres when rear seats folded down.
Given its dimensions and prices, beyond the Porsche Macan, Land Rover is trying to lure buyers from both the upper end of the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe as well as the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe internationally. The Velar sharing the same aluminum-intensive IQ architecture with F-Pace can be closely associated with more importance on performance and handling rather than just suiting different off-roading surfaces with sturdiness.
In US, Land Rover gives buyers a choice of two petrol engines connected to same eight-speed automatic transmission: a 247 hp 2.0-litre turbocharged four and a 380 hp 3.0-litre supercharged V6 and a 180 hp 2.0-litre diesel. European countries get a variety of engines including the 180 PS and 240 PS 2.0-litre, four-cylinder and 300 PS 3.0-litre V6 diesels and a pair of petrol units: the 250 PS 2.0L and the 380 PS 3.0L V6. A range-topping performance-bound SVR performance variant with a V8 engine maybe added in a later time.
Excitingly, the Velar is all-wheel driven featuring Land Rover’s familiar off-road technology like the Terrain Response system and Hill Descent Control (HDC). In India, the Land Rover family starts with price of Rs. 40.04 lakh for the Discovery Sport and goes all the way up to Rs. 1.58 crore (ex-showroom) for the range-topping Range Rover.
The Velar is indeed a valuable addition for the domestic lineup and it features 2.0-litre diesel making 177 bhp and 430 Nm, 3.0-litre V6 diesel with 296 bhp and 700 Nm along with 2.0-litre petrol producing 247 bhp and 265 Nm. All are mated to an eight speed transmission with standard all-wheel-drive system.
Range Rover Velar Images
