Range Rover Velar revealed at London Design Museum
… Technology-enabled design, elegant simplicity, premium materials.
Land Rover has unveiled the Velar inside the London’s famed Design Museum, making it the fourth member of the Range Rover family. Bringing a new dimension of modernity and elegance to the Range Rover family, the Velar is positioned between the Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport, offering levels of luxury, refinement and all-terrain capability never before seen in the mid-size SUV segment.
Created from a clean sheet using Jaguar Land Rover’s Lightweight Aluminium Architecture, the Range Rover Velar represents the next chapter of the Range Rover success story. The model is defined by a visually reductive approach and meticulous attention to precision in every detail; this helps evolve Range Rover DNA and previews the next generation of vehicles from the automaker.
A number of elements define the desirability of the new Range Rover Velar. It is designed and engineered with an unwavering belief in ‘reductionism’, the luxurious, spacious interior is a calm sanctuary, combining elegant simplicity with premium materials and beautiful details such as hidden-until-lit controls
Second, the mid-size SUV fills the ‘white space’ between Evoque and Range Rover Sport. Born from reductionism, the Velar relies on technology-enabled design, providing the next logical step in expanding the Range Rover portfolio.
Third, almost fifty years of Range Rover pedigree provides the confidence to aim higher and allow customers to make more of their world. The royalty of the SUV world, Range Rover heritage began with the original prototypes in 1969 which were named Velar
Fourth, continuing on a history of innovation for Range Rover, the Velar incorporates advanced technologies; compelling design and an absolute attention to detail that portend the design language for future models. It comes with dual touchscreen infotainment system-2 called Touch Pro Duo, full colour Heads Up Display, super-slim LED headlights, flush deployable door handles and burnished copper detailing offer a glimpse at design trends for future models of the brand.
Aside the foregoing, the new car is constructed from a lightweight and stiff aluminium-intensive body structure which enhances performance, agility and efficiency versus traditional steel construction. The 113.15 inch wheelbase and intelligently-designed interior deliver an exceptionally large 34.4 cubic ft luggage compartment.
Available air suspension is standard on six-cylinder models improving on- and off-road refinement and capability, while Adaptive Dynamics damping technology further enhances comfort and control
All-wheel drive with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics and an optional active locking rear differential (available on six-cylinder derivatives only) deliver maximum driver engagement on-road and ensure Velar leads its segment in all-terrain capability
Available traction technologies include Terrain Response, All Terrain Progress Control, Low Traction Launch, Hill Descent Control(HDC) and Gradient Release Control
A towing capacity of up to 5,500 lbs in six-cylinder models is complemented by the Advanced Tow Assist function instead of directly steering the vehicle when backing up, the driver can aim where they want the trailer to go using the Touch Pro Duo rotary controller, and the vehicle determines what steering inputs are needed to park the trailer where directed.
Three available powertrains include a responsive 180HP 2.0-liter Ingenium diesel 4-cylinder, a 247HP 2.0-liter gas Ingenium 4-cylinder and a potent 380HP supercharged 3.0-liter gas V6 engine. Each engine is mated to an 8-speed ZF transmission with all-wheel drive standard.
It comes with full suite of advanced drivers’ assistance systems, including Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, Reverse Traffic Detection, and Driver Condition Monitoring.
By Mike Ochonma