See First Look: 2018 Range Rover Velar

GAYDON, England – Jaguar Land Rover is moving fast to capitalize on the sizzling SUV market, bringing to dealerships this summer an entirely new model that suddenly makes other midsize SUVs look old.

The Range Rover Velar — the same name used for the very first Range Rover prototypes in the late 1960s — is visually stunning with big wheels, a tall beltline and an almost coupe-like profile over appealing proportions. The interior capitalizes on simplicity and modern design with a clean, uncluttered layout that looks as modern as it appears functional. The 2018 Velar will slot into Range Rover’s lineup in between the ever-popular Evoque and the larger Range Rover Sport. It also promises to blunt sales of the BMW X4, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe and the Porsche Macan – and possibly even the company’s own Jaguar F-Pace.

“Design is at the core of everything we do,” explained Gerry McGovern, chief design officer for Jaguar Land Rover, during a private reveal of the Velar at the company’s headquarters in Gaydon, England, ahead of the Velar’s official debut at the Geneva Motor Show. He said he strives for desirability as much as being innovative.

 

“At Land Rover, we don’t do ordinary vehicles,” he said, adding that “every new Range Rover has to be better than the vehicle it replaces.”

The Velar definitely stamps the brand with a new identity. It will be the first to receive flush door handles that pop open when touched, then close while the vehicle is underway; it will be interesting to see how they cope with a Canadian winter. Even more sleek than Range Rover’s current offerings, the Velar neatly splits the silhouettes of traditional SUVs and the new generation of “fastback” designs, as seen on the BMW X6 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe.

Indeed, the Velar is the most aerodynamic Range Rover ever, with a drag coefficient of just 0.32. And with all-LED lighting inside and out — including laser spot headlamps — able to light up the road half a kilometre away, the Velar gives off a stealthy look. Yet its DNA is so well carried forward, the new SUV won’t be mistaken for anything other than a Range Rover.

Especially inside. The cabin simply exudes luxury with fine stitching, thick leathers, aluminum trim and a central infotainment screen that is as pretty as it seems functional; not only does it tilt for better visibility, it retains a good ol’ fashioned volume knob, although most controls are now touch activated or by rotary control.

The interior’s sophistication carries over to the main instrument cluster, featuring a 12.3-inch TFT LCD display with vivid and incredibly sharp graphics for the tach, speedometer and other vehicle functions. For those who can’t stomach a leather interior, the Velar will offer a “Kvadrat” interior option – a first for the British marque – which mates Alcantara with a unique fabric that is a blend of 30 per cent wool and 70 per cent polyester.

Built on an all-aluminum unibody platform, the Velar sits on a 2,874-millimetre wheelbase (about the same as the Discovery) and will have an overall length of about 4,800 millimetres. While Europe gets six engine options, Canada will only be getting two: a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 180 horsepower and 317 lb.-ft. of torque, and Jaguar Land Rover’s 3.0-litre supercharged V6 boasting 380 horsepower. Land Rover says the V6 is enough to scoot the Velar from rest to 96 km/h (60 mph) in just 5.3 seconds. Both engines are mated to a ZF-manufactured eight-speed automatic transmission.

Like all Range Rovers, the Velar gets serious off-road credentials, which haven’t been diluted here. Full-time AWD, an active rear-locking differential, Land Rover’s configurable Terrain Response 2 driving modes and an air suspension system with 100 millimetres of travel are all part of the package. Furthermore, Land Rover claims the Velar has a wading depth of 651 millimetres and more than 250 millimetres of ground clearance.

Canadian pricing for the base Velar S with the 2.0L Ingenium Td4 will start at $62,000 and V6 models will start at $64,200, meanwhile the top-of-the-line, V6-powered Velar R-Dynamic HSE will set you back $82,600. For a limited time, JLR Canada will sell you a “First Edition” Velar — complete with perforated “Windsor” leather seating and a 1600-watt Meridian Signature sound system — for a whopping $95,000.

The Velar will be available in dealerships this summer across Canada.