Range Rover has debuted an all-new model – the Velar. This four-door, two-row SUV fills the space between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport, giving Range Rover a stable with four vehicles, each appealing to a specific niche of the market. The Velar’s appeal is its striking new design, minimalistic interior, and avant-garde detailing. Range Rover also says the Velar ushers in a new era of design for the brand, so we’re expecting similar themes in Range Rover’s future vehicles.
The Range Rover Velar debuts for the 2018 model year and arrives in U.S. showrooms in mid to late 2017. It rides on Land Rover’s Lightweight Aluminum Architecture, similar to the Jaguar F-Pace. In fact, both vehicles share an 113-inch wheelbase and JLR’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel and 3.0-liter supercharged V-6. The Range Rover expands its powertrain by one, positioning JLR’s 2.0-liter gasoline turbo-four as the mid-range engine option. Similar to the F-Pace, the diesel comes standard with the V-6 being the range-topping choice.
Despite the Velar sharing its bones with the Jaguar F-Pace, the Range Rover is certainly its own vehicle. Not only does the Velar come with Land Rover’s impressive off-road chops, but its design is clearly a huge step towards the future of luxury.
Land Rover’s chief design officer, Gerry McGovern had this to say. “We call the Velar the avant-garde Range Rover. It brings a new dimension of glamor, modernity, and elegance to the brand. The Range Rover Velar changes everything.”
While the Velar won’t completely “change everything,” it is definitely a statement piece Range Rover will model the rest of its lineup after. It’s very likely we will see the Land Rover Range Rover adopt this high-end look while adding even more upscale touches. Regardless of the future, the Velar is shaking things up.
The Velar’s pricing starts at $49,900 and will reach into the low $90,000s. Range Rover is even offering a First Edition. Limited to roughly 500 examples in the U.S., the Velar First Edition comes with special paint colors, more standard features, carbon fiber trim, and a 1,600 Meridian Signature sound system. Range Rover will officially debut the U.S.-spec Velar at the 2017 New York Auto Show in April.
Continue reading for the full review.
Some Backstory on the Velar Name
The Velar name harks back to 1969 when Range Rover was testing its new-for-1970 model, simply known as the Range Rover. Company employees began referring to the prototypes and test mules as the Velar (pronounced vel-ar). The name is basically a translation of the Latin word velare, which means to veil or cover.
Exterior
Wow… Range Rover has certainly upped its game in the design department. The Velar retains enough heritage to be considered an evolution, but not so much that the design is weighed down by harking back to the past. The overall look in impressively clean and minimalistic. Its high beltline, low roof, slanted front fascia, flared fenders, and huge wheels give it a low-slung, planted appearance, while still seeming agile and powerful.
The Velar enjoys rounded edges that seem molded around the wheels. Standard wheels manure 18 inches, but 22-incher are available. The rear is similar to the Range Rover Evoque’s, with the bumper taking an upward turn while the roofline slopes downward. It’s as if a clay block was subjected to hurricane-force winds.
The rear is similar to the Range Rover Evoque’s, with the bumper taking an upward turn while the roofline slopes downward
Range Rover designers didn’t skimp on details, either. Large air inlets head of the front tires are intricately incorporated into the rounded nose. The LED headlights perfectly follow the body lines, and vents on the hood and front fenders retain an air of utility while injecting a bit of performance attitude into Velar’s stance. The headlights also use adaptive matrix LED technology, allowing the lights to shield oncoming vehicles from glare. The laser high beams take over on dark roads, providing visibility over 1,840 feet ahead.
The Velar boasts the mid-size SUV segment’s first deployable door handles. Like the Jaguar F-Type, a button on the handles locks and unlocks the car. When unlocked, the handles slide out of the door. When retracted, they help with aerodynamic efficiency, contributing to the Velar’s impressive 0.32 coefficient of drag. They also unlock via a smartphone or Jaguar 
Land Rover’s new smart wristband key. Range Rover also says the handles are designed to work in any conditions, including at temperatures below minus 20 degrees and with four millimeters of ice caked on top.
Matching the headlights and side vents, the taillights follow the Velar’s main character line. The LED taillights incorporate a 3D-like appearance, giving them depth and interest. The Range Rover badge resides between the lights, set off by a black background. And speaking of black backgrounds, the entire roof and its support pillars are blacked out, along with the lower bodywork, side mirrors, and lower character line. Chrome-tipped exhaust pipes protrude from the rear fascia but are perfectly sculpted into the bodywork.
The R-Dynamic is arguably the most dramatic, with its copper accents on the vents, a deeper front bumper, dark Range Rover lettering on the hood and tailgate, and Dark Grey Satin 22-inch wheels
The Velar is offered in three different styles. The R-Dynamic is arguably the most dramatic, with its copper accents on the vents, a deeper front bumper, dark Range Rover lettering on the hood and tailgate, and Dark Grey Satin 22-inch wheels. The Black pack and Luxury pack round out the trio, offering slightly less dramatic variations on the R-Design’s theme for the standard-spec Velar models.
In all, the 2018 Range Rover Velar is a thing of beauty. Should Range Rover designers follow the Velar’s theme with future vehicle design, the brand will certainly experience an explosion in popularity and desirability.
Exterior Dimensions
Interior
The Velar’s interior throws the bar rather than just moving it. The overall theme is familiar to Range Rover vehicles, but the controls and detailing have taken a futuristic direction. Gone are the small buttons on a plastic center console and the illegible gauge cluster found in the Evoque. These are replaced by a full complement of touch-sensitive controls and a fully digital gauge cluster.
The overall theme is familiar to Range Rover vehicles, but the controls and detailing have taken a futuristic direction
From behind the wheel, the driver enjoys that configurable and full-color 10-inch digital gauge cluster, touch-sensitive steering wheel controls, a 10-inch touch screen for the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, and touch controls for the HVAC system. The infotainment system is sophisticated enough to accept multi-gesture controls like pinching and swiping. It also has 4G LTE Wi-Fi and 60 gigabits of onboard storage. The system also links to smartphones in deeper ways than ever before. The driver can select the destination from a smartphone and send it to the Touch Pro Duo system.
Only three knobs exist: the two temperature control knobs and the radio volume knob. Of course, that doesn’t count the familiar-yet-revised rotary gear shifter, which rises when the engine is turned on. Also mechanical, the entire 10-inch infotainment screen tilts towards the driver, providing a better glare-free view.
What’s more, all of these touch controls are only visible when illuminated. When the engine is off, the Velar’s dash and center console look like clear, piano black panels. Even the Terrain Response system is integrated into the touch controls. When called upon, the Terrain Response screen replaces the HVAC controls, giving the driver a full-screen view of system setting without taking up space on the infotainment system. The HVAC temperature knobs are then used as dials for selecting different terrain modes.
The center armrest slides and opens. Slid rearward, the padded armrest reveals two cup holds. Opened, the armrest reveals a storage compartment. Bottle holders in each door pocket further increase the number of storage space. If it’s large storage space you need, the Velar has 34.4 cubic-feet of luggage space behind the second row.
If it’s large storage space you need, the Velar has 34.4 cubic-feet of luggage space behind the second row.
Three trim levels are available: Standard, S, SE, and HSE. A Velar R-Dynamic range is also available. Several interior color schemes are available, including a rather unique tweed-like insert colored in a bluish gray.
Interior Dimensions
Drivetrain
Land Rover offers three engines in the Range Rover velar. The standard engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel from the Ingenium engine family. It produces 180 horsepower and a respectable 317 pound-feet of torque. The mid-range engine is also from the Ingenium family and shares the same displacement with the turbodiesel. The 2.0-liter Petrol engine (or gasoline, for us Americans) uses a turbocharger as well, helping it make 247 horsepower. The range-topping engine is a familiar one in Jaguar Land Rover’s lineup. It’s the supercharged 3.0-liter V-6. The Range Rover Velar gets the high-output version too, meaning it makes 380 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque like it does in the Jaguar F-Type S.
The standard engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel from the Ingenium engine family
All engines come mated to the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, and the full-time 4WD is standard. A coil-spring suspension comes standard, but a four-corner air suspension is optional on mid-grade models and standard with the V-6. The air suspension can increase the ride height by 46 mm, giving it 9.88 inches of ground clearance. The Velar can also ford 25.59 inches of water, which is nearly to the top of the 22-inch wheels. Coil spring-equipped Velars still have impressive stats, with 8.38 inches of ground clearance and 23.62 inches of fording depth.
The Terrain Response 2 system, like in other Land Rover and Range Rover products, has various driver-selectable settings to match a variety of off-road situations. An automatically locking rear differential aids in off-roading, while the center-mounted transfer case directs power to the front and rear axles. Rest assured, the Range Rover Velar will hang with the rest of Land Rover’s products when the paved road ends.
Back on a prepped surface, the Velar posts some impressive 0-to-60 mph times. The turbodiesel is the slowest of the bunch, of course, posting an 8.4-second time. The gasoline four-cylinder completes the run in 6.4 seconds. Not surprisingly, the supercharged 3.0-liter V-6, officially known as the P380, hits 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds.
Not surprisingly, the supercharged 3.0-liter V-6, officially known as the P380, hits 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds.
The Velar is also a capable tow vehicle. Atop a 5,500-pound tow rating, Range Rover has included its Advanced Tow Assist feature. Much like Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist, Range Rover’s system allows the driver to use one of the Touch Pro Duo rotary knobs (the left HVAC knob) to control the steering while reversing with a trailer. The system does require imputing trailer measurements, so it’s best reserved for trailers towed often.
Drivetrain Specifications
Safety
The 2018 Velar has a full suite of active and passive safety systems. They include driver assistance features like Autonomous Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue-Assist, an Adaptive Speed Limiter, and blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Six airbags and JLR’s rigid aluminum chassis protect the occupants if a crash does occur.
The Velar has yet to be tested by an independent crash-test agency, but we’ll update this section when that happens.
Prices
Not only does the Range Rover Velar slot nicely between the Evoque and Sport models in terms of size, it also fits snugly between in pricing. The 2018 Velar starts at $49,900. That puts it perfectly between the $41,800 Evoque and the $65,650 Sport.
Obviously, choosing a higher trim level results in a more expensive buy-in price. The table shows a breakdown of the Velar’s pricing.
Competition
BMW X4
BMW’s quest to fill every possible niche market has resulted in some interesting (and often forgettable) models. Included in that is the X4, which is basically a coupe-like version of the X3. Since the Range Rover Velar shares its basic design with the Jaguar F-Pace, the X4 does make a good comparison.
The X4 has two engine options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in the X4 28i, or the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder that makes 355 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque in the X4 M40i. Both come mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and BMW’s xDrive AWD system.
Prices start at $45,555 for the 28i and $58,100 for the M40i.
Read more about the BMW X4 here.
Porsche Macan
The Porsche Macan is the smallest of the Porsche SUVs and offers a sporty ride with room for five. It features distinctive Porsche styling, including the large grille, 911-like headlights, and a sloping rear roofline. Inside is a comfortable yet sporty cabin with all the modern features expected in a $50,000-plus SUV.
The Macan comes in three forms: the Macan, Macan S, and the Macan GTS. The base Macan is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The mid-level Macan S gets a 3.0-liter V-6 with 340 horses and 339 pound-feet of torque. The GTS is the post powerful of the trio, with a high-output version of the 3.0-liter V-6 making 360 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Each comes with AWD and Porsche’s PDK transmission.
Prices for the Macan start at $47,500. The Macan S carries a price of $54,400, while the GTS starts at $67,200.
Read our full review on the Porsche Macan here.
Conclusion
Range Rover has seen an explosion in business since it added smaller and more affordable vehicles to its lineup. The Velar will surely add to this success, with an appeal to customers wanting something a bit larger than the Evoque, yet less expensive than the Range Rover Sport. The Velar will also attract those customers tired of “boring” crossovers. Range Rover’s description of avant-garde styling definitely matches the end result, making the Velar one of the best-dressed crossovers and SUVs in the marketplace.
Let us know what you think of the 2018 Range Rover Velar in the comments below.
Press Release
The fourth member of the Range Rover family has arrived.
A new addition to the Range Rover family, filling the white space between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport
A mid-size luxury SUV that delivers new levels of refinement, elegance and technology
Range Rover Velar goes on sale from Summer 2017 priced from £44,830 (OTR)
The luxury SUV was created in 1970 when Land Rover launched the original Range Rover. Almost half a century later that spirit of innovation continues with the introduction of the fourth member of the Range Rover family.
Elegant simplicity, a visually reductive approach and pioneering consumer technology are the hallmarks of the new Range Rover Velar.
Five elements define Range Rover Velar’s absolute desirability:
Driven by reduction: Stripping away complexity to reveal true quality
Designed and engineered with an unwavering belief in ‘reductionism’
Luxurious, spacious interior is a calm sanctuary, combining elegant simplicity with premium materials and beautiful details such as hidden-until-lit controls
The fourth Range Rover: The next revolution in SUV design, with precision in every detail
Fills the ‘white space’ between Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport
Born from reductionism, Range Rover Velar articulates technology-enabled design broadening the Range Rover portfolio
A bloodline like no other: Respecting Range Rover’s unrivalled heritage
Almost fifty years of Range Rover pedigree continues the Range Rover luxury SUV bloodline
Royalty of the SUV world, Range Rover heritage began with the original Velar prototypes of 1969
Establishing the trends of tomorrow: A new Range Rover statement of innovation
Continuing Range Rover’s history of innovation, Velar incorporates advanced technologies, compelling design and absolute attention to detail
State-of-the-art Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, super-slim matrix-laser LED headlights, flush deployable door handles and Burnished Copper-coloured detailing embody the design zeitgeist of tomorrow
Refined for every occasion: Exceeding expectations with Land Rover’s legendary capability on all terrains
All the refinement customers expect together with Land Rover’s unrivalled capability on every terrain around the world
Exceptional on-road performance and agility combined with outstanding ride quality and composure
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 and intelligently-designed interior deliver an impressive 632-litre luggage compartment and exceptional space for all occupants
Air suspension as standard on six-cylinder models for peerless refinement; Adaptive Dynamics damping technology standard on all models for unrivalled comfort and control
All-wheel drive with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics and optional active locking rear differential ensure world-class all-terrain capability and maximum driver engagement on-road
Pioneering traction technologies including Terrain Response 2 (optional), All Terrain Progress Control (optional), Low Traction Launch, Hill Descent Control and Gradient Release Control
Towing capacity of up to 2,500kg complemented by the optional 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 clean, responsive 180PS 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel with CO2 emissions from only 142g/km, to the potent 380PS 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
Whitley, UK, 01 March 2017 – The Range Rover Velar brings a new dimension of glamour, modernity and elegance to the Range Rover family. Designed to fill the white space between Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport, Velar offers levels of luxury, refinement and all-terrain capability never before seen in the mid-size SUV segment. This is a new type of Range Rover for a new type of customer.
Jaguar Land Rover UK Managing Director, Jeremy Hicks said: “The new Range Rover Velar is a stunning addition to the Range Rover family, it enhances a model line-up that originally defined the luxury SUV segment and continues to do so. Velar brings increased choice to new and existing customers in a growing SUV market. It leads the way in terms of design, usable technology, new materials and of course Land Rover’s legendary go anywhere, do anything capability.
“The whole team is enormously excited about bringing the new Range Rover Velar to customers across the UK.”
Velar is defined by a visually reductive approach and meticulous attention to precision in every detail, which evolves the Range Rover DNA.
Velar’s design is beautifully balanced, from its powerful proportions to its continuous waist line through to the taut tapered lines of the rear. The generous wheelbase contributes significantly to its elegance while helping to provide a spacious interior.
The large alloy wheels – in particular the range of 22-inch designs – optimise the vehicle’s stunning silhouette, while further enhancing Velar’s dramatic presence.
Advanced technology is pivotal to the contemporary design: the full-LED headlights are the most slender ever to appear on a production Land Rover vehicle. The flush deployable door handles emphasise Velar’s reductive, sculptured form, and contribute to the low drag coefficient from only 0.32 – this is the most aerodynamically-efficient Land Rover ever produced.
Look inside Velar’s interior and you will see elegant simplicity, sophistication and refinement. An unwavering belief in reductionism has been fully employed, with switches being kept to an absolute minimum to help create a calm sanctuary.
Design-enabling technology has been engaged fully to create the new Touch Pro Duo infotainment system which is the centrepiece of Velar’s interior. Touch Pro Duo features two 10-inch high-definition touchscreens integrated seamlessly behind secret-until-lit surfaces. These slim, intuitive displays work in harmony with the cabin architecture while adding an overall sense of modernity congruent with the vehicle’s exterior design. All of this is equalled by Velar’s practicality: luggage compartment volume is an impressive 632 litres-litres including a reduced-section spare wheel as standard in the UK.
Unique in the segment, Velar offers a sustainable, premium textile seat material as an alternative to leather. The Dapple Grey material was developed together with Kvadrat, Europe’s leading manufacturer of high-quality design textiles, and is complemented with Suedecloth inserts in Ebony or Light Oyster.
The light, stiff, aluminium-intensive body, together with double-wishbone front- and Integral Link rear suspension provides the perfect basis for agile handling, superior ride comfort and outstanding refinement. It also delivers exceptional levels of crash protection, and Velar has been developed to meet the most demanding crash test regulations worldwide.
Combined with a comprehensive restraints system that includes six airbags, and a suite of advanced driver assistance systems including Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist (standard on HSE) and an Adaptive Speed Limiter, Velar integrates the latest safety technology.
Velar features a sophisticated all-wheel drive system, four-corner air suspension, (available on 300PS Diesel and 380PS Petrol engines) class-leading ground clearance of up to 251mm (213mm with coil springs), class-leading wading depth of up to 650mm (600mm with coil springs) and Land Rover’s unmatched suite of traction technologies including Terrain Response 2 (optional) and All Terrain Progress Control (optional). Velar – like all Range Rovers – offers world-class all-terrain capability.
Exceptional performance and efficiency come from the range of six petrol and diesel powertrains, all matched to smooth-shifting ZF eight-speed automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics.
Clean, refined four-cylinder Ingenium diesels are offered in 180PS and 240PS variants, noted for their low 142g/km CO2 emissions and high 500Nm torque output respectively. These engines are joined by the new, highly-advanced four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine which delivers 250PS and enables acceleration from 0-100km/h in just 6.7 seconds (0-60mph in 6.4 seconds). An even more powerful, 300PS version of this engine will join the Velar range later in the year.
The V6 diesel combines an extraordinary 700Nm of torque for effortless acceleration and off-road capability with CO2 emissions of only 167g/km. The 380PS supercharged V6 petrol engine combines exhilarating performance with a unique soundtrack and enables Velar to reach 0-60mph in only 5.3 seconds (100km/h in 5.7 seconds) before reaching an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph (250km/h).
The Velar and Velar R-Dynamic core range comprises Standard, S, SE or HSE specifications. Customers can also specify Black and Luxury Exterior Packs for an even more distinguished appearance.
Of all Velar models, the most exclusive of all will be the First Edition, which be available worldwide but strictly for one model year only. Even more luxurious than the HSE specification, this model is powered solely by the 3.0-litre V6 petrol and diesel engines and features a wealth of extra features as standard, including full extended leather interior trim to complement the perforated Windsor leather seats in Nimbus or Ebony, 1,600W Meridian Signature Sound System, Matrix-Laser LED headlights and 22-inch Split-Spoke wheels with diamond-turned finish.
Exterior paint colours for the First Edition are Corris Grey, Silicon Silver, and Flux Silver – a unique satin finish exclusive to the First Edition for the first model year only – which will be meticulously hand-sprayed at Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations’ Oxford Road Technical Centre in the UK.
Designed and engineered at Jaguar Land Rover’s development centres in the UK, Velar will be produced at the company’s Solihull production facility, UK. It goes on sale in mid-July in the UK and Europe and in over 170 markets worldwide.