2017 RANGE ROVER VELAR REVIEW

Range_Rover_Velar_frontA fourth member of the Range Rover has just been introduced in Australia. Sitting neatly in the gap between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport, the new Range Rover Velar is priced from $70,662 to $135,762.

There’s also a special First Edition launch model priced from $168,250, more about it later.

Land Rover chief designer, Gerry McGovern, tell us, “We call the Velar the avantgarde Range Rover. It brings a new dimension of glamour, modernity and elegance to the brand. The Range Rover Velar changes everything.”

Naturally the Velar follows Range Rover’s long tradition of having a light, stiff, aluminium-intensive body to maximise performance, handling and efficiency.

Velar debuts Range Rover’s latest Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, with two high-definition 10-inch touchscreens.

There are six powerplants: four-cylinder Ingenium turbo-diesels in 132kW and 177kW variants; a four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine which delivers 184kW and enables acceleration from 0-100km/h in just 6.7 seconds. An even more powerful, 221kW version of this engine will join the Velar range later in the year.

The V6 diesel has 700Nm of torque; a 280kW supercharged V6 petrol engine enables the Velar to reach 100km/h in only 5.7 seconds.

Range Rover Velar and Velar R-Dynamic core range comprises Standard, S, SE or HSE specifications.

Range_Rover_Velar_rear

The Velar has a sophisticated all-wheel drive system, four-corner air suspension, class-leading ground clearance of 251mm (213mm with coil springs), class-leading wading depth of 650mm (600mm with coil springs).

Pioneering traction technologies including Terrain Response 2, All Terrain Progress Control, Low Traction Launch, Hill Descent Control and Gradient Release Control.

We will arrange to borrow a Range Rover Velar for a road test and bring our opinions to you immediately afterwards.

SPECIAL EDITION
If you want even more in the new Velar a special First Edition launch model priced from $168,250 is on offer for one year only. Even more luxurious than the HSE, it has full extended leather interior trim to complement the perforated Windsor leather seats in Nimbus or Ebony; a 1600 Watt Meridian Signature Sound System; Matrix-Laser LED headlights and 22-inch Split-Spoke wheels with diamond-turned finish.

Range_Rover_Velar_interior

Exterior paint colours for the First Edition are Corris Grey, Silicon Silver, and Flux Silver that will be hand-sprayed at Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations’ Oxford Road Technical Centre in the UK.

MODEL RANGE
Velar D180: $71,550
Velar D240: $80,950
Velar D300: $92,850
Velar P250: $70,662
Velar P300: $78,750
Velar P380: $93,462
Velar S D180: $82,650
Velar S D240: $92,050
Velar S D300: $103,950
Velar S P250: $81,762
Velar S P300: $89,850
Velar S P380: $104,562
Velar SE D180: $91,550
Velar SE D240: $100,950
Velar SE D300: $112,850
Velar SE P250: $90,662
Velar SE P300: $98,750
Velar SE P380: $113,462
Velar HSE D180: $107,850
Velar HSE D240: $117,250
Velar HSE D300: $129,150
Velar HSE P250: $106,962
Velar HSE P300: $115,050
Velar HSE P380: $129,762
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Range Rover dealer for drive-away prices.

About Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy, a long-time car enthusiast, was Technical Research Librarian with the NRMA from 1970 until 1985. He worked part-time as a freelance motoring journalist from 1977 until 1985, when he took a full-time position as Technical Editor with Modern Motor magazine. Late in 1987 he left to set up a full-time business as a freelance motoring journalist. Ewan is an associate member of the Society of Automotive Engineers - International. An economy driving expert, he set the Guinness World Record for the greatest distance travelled in a standard road vehicle on a single fuel fill. He lists his hobbies as stage acting, travelling, boating and reading.
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