Range Rover Velar officially unveiled – Specification and Pricing

Land Rover has today officially unveiled the sleek new Range Rover Velar, the latest member of the British marque’s ever expanding SUV range.

The new car is named after Range Rover’s first prototypes of the 1960s and is a close cousin of the Jaguar F-Pace, sharing the same car-based aluminium-intensive IQ platform as the Jag. That means the Velar will emphasise handling and performance rather than off-road abilities.

Slotted between the compact Range Rover Evoque and larger Range Rover Sport, the five-seat Range Rover Velar will take on the mid-size premium SUV segment playing against the likes of BMW X3, Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Lexus RX.

Land Rover says the Velar promises new levels of luxury, refinement and all-terrain capability never before seen in class, heralding it as a new type of Range Rover for a new type of customer.

Created from a clean sheet using Jaguar Land Rover’s Lightweight Aluminium Architecture, the Velar is said to represent the next chapter of the Range Rover journey. The SUV maker says the Velar is defined by a visually reductive approach and meticulous attention to precision in every detail, which evolves Range Rover DNA and previews the next generation of Range Rover vehicles.

Shown here shod on 22-inch wheels, the Range Rover Velar features full-LED headlights that are the most slender ever to appear on a production Land Rover vehicle. The flush deployable door handles – a first for a Land Rover model – emphasise the Velar’s reductive, sculptured form, and contribute to the low drag coefficient of only 0.32 – the most aerodynamically-efficient Land Rover ever produced.

At the rear, the LED taillights echo the sophistication of the headlights with a striking 3D appearance. They are complemented by a full-length high-level stop-lamp, hidden-until-lit and with a clear lens. It uses light-guide technology with integrated micro-optics to create smooth, homogeneous light.

A range of 13 exterior colours is available: Fuji White, Narvik Black, Yulong White, Indus Silver, Corris Grey, Santorini Black, Kaikoura Stone, Byron Blue, Firenze Red, Aruba, Silicon Silver and Carpathian Grey.

For the an even more premium appearance, a new Flux Silver satin paint finish is available exclusively for the limited First Edition model from Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division. The advanced paint features a vacuum-metallised pigment to enhance the effect of both light and shade over the Velar’s elegant, svelte form.

Eight distinctive wheel designs ranging from 18- to 22-inches with a choice of four finishes are available. Standard models are supplied with 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, while S upgrades to a 19-inch, SE to 20-inch and HSE 21-inch. First Edition models come standard with exclusive 22-inch alloy wheels.

Mirroring the taut, uncluttered and sleek exterior design, the interior embraces the latest technology with a renewed focus on luxury materials, exquisite detailing, and refinement. But the showpiece is the two high-definition 10-inch touchscreens of the new Touch Pro Duo infotainment system. Integrating the Terrain Response and Terrain Response 2 controls into Touch Pro Duo eliminates the traditional dial and hard buttons, creating extra space in the centre console and further emphasising the visually-reductive approach that drives every aspect of the Velar’s design.

The infotainment system features two multi-function rotary controllers and are distinguished by their tactile, rubberised outer surface, Satin Chrome bezels and seamlessly-integrated digital display screens.

In front of the driver are twin-analogue dials with a 5-inch TFT display between them, or, as standard from SE specification and above, a 12.3-inch fully customisable digital display that serves up various driving information including a full-map view.

Range Rover Velar powertrains and specifications

Power comes from three petrol and three diesel engines, all turbocharged. The range of Ingenium powertrains are as follows:

• D180: 2.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder, 132kW and 430Nm, 0-100km/h takes 8.9s, averaged fuel economy of 5.4L/100km
• D240: 2.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder, 177kW and 500Nm, 0-100km/h takes 7.3s, averaged fuel economy of 5.8L/100km
• D300: 2.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder, 221kW and 700Nm, 0-100km/h takes 6.5s, averaged fuel economy of 6.4L/100km
• P250: 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder, 184kW and 365Nm, 0-100km/h takes 6.7s, averaged fuel economy of 7.6L/100km
• P300: 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder, 221kW and 400Nm, 0-100km/h times and averaged fuel economy to be announced (arriving later this year)
• P380: 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol, 280kW and 450Nm, 0-100km/h takes 5.7s, averaged fuel economy of 9.4L/100km

All powertrains are matched to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

2017 Range Rover Velar at-a-glance

• Compelling, stand-out design features perfectly optimised proportions, powerful, taut surfaces and a stunning silhouette
• Design purity emphasised by super-slim Matrix Laser-LED headlights and flush deployable door handles
• Debut of the state-of-the-art Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, featuring two high definition 10-inch touchscreens for unrivalled functionality and intuitive operation
• Light, stiff, aluminium-intensive body structure enhances performance, agility and efficiency
• The 2,874mm wheelbase delivers a 558-litre luggage compartment
• Air suspension as standard on six-cylinder models; Adaptive Dynamics damping technology standard on all models
• All-wheel drive with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics and active locking rear differential on all models
• Traction technologies including Terrain Response 2, All Terrain Progress Control, Low Traction Launch, Hill Descent Control and Gradient Release Control
• Towing capacity of up to 2,500kg complemented by the Advanced Tow Assist function – the driver reverses the vehicle with trailer attached using the Touch Pro Duo rotary controller, and with no need to counter-steer
• Six powertrains ranging from the 132kW 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel to the potent 280kW supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine
• Full suite of advanced safety systems including Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, Reverse Traffic Detection, and Driver Condition Monitoring

2017 Range Rover Velar pricing

The all-new Range Rover Velar is now available for order from Land Rover dealerships across Australia with first delivery expected in mid 2017. Prices range from $70,300 – $135,400 before on-roads, while the Velar First Edition launch model is priced from $167,600 plus ORCs.