By Moses Akaigwe
The New Range Rover Velar is a pure expression of modern luxury, featuring the latest technology, trademark Range Rover refinement and a dramatic, clean and reductive new design.
A new grille combines with the characteristic floating roof, unbroken waistline and flush deployable door handles that define the world’s most desirable luxury SUV family. New super-slim Pixel LED headlights8 provide a technical, jewel-like appearance and optimised visibility while the exterior is enhanced by a new lower rear bumper and dark accents.
The Range Rover Velar pioneered Range Rover’s reductive design philosophy and it takes this approach to a new level inside. The new single floating 11.4-inch curved glass touchscreen is integrated into the centre console, providing immediate and intuitive control of all key vehicle functions1.
A full suite of technologies promotes passenger comfort and wellbeing, making the mid-size luxury SUV even more desirable. The Range Rover Velar also offers the quietest vehicle in its class for road noise*, thanks to refinement technologies including the pioneering Active Road Noise Cancellation7 system.
The plug-in electric hybrid Velar is more capable and flexible than ever, with a greater pure-electric driving range of up to 64km9thanks to a redesigned battery pack, while the choice of highly advanced petrol and diesel engines feature mild hybrid technology for assured refinement and fuel efficiency.
South African clients can choose from Velar Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE and Autobiography.
Prof Gerry McGovern OBE, Chief Creative Officer, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “New Range Rover Velar is a flawless example of our modernist design philosophy – clean, reductive and compellingly desirable. Defined by perfectly optimised proportions, Range Rover Velar embodies effortless sophistication with a bold elegance and dramatic presence that is truly unique.”
Intriguing design
The Range Rover pioneered Range Rover’s reductive design philosophy and its new grille – alongside the introduction of new Pixel LED Headlights8 with jewel-like effect Signature Daytime Running Lights – ensure a unified look across the entire family.
At the rear, the powerful overhang provides balance and highlights the Range Rover Velar’s imposing length. Its pronounced kick adds to its muscular stance while the new lower rear bumper enhances its proportions, featuring hidden tailpipes for a clean and elegant appearance.
New LED taillights echo this sophistication with an eye-catching 3D appearance and super-red illumination. They are complemented by a full-length high-level stop-lamp.
Inside, the bold, elegant interior of the Range Rover Velar is even more reductive, with outstanding craftmanship and new materials. The latest evolution of Range Rover’s Pivi Pro6 infotainment forms the centrepiece; a single 11.4-inch floating curved glass interface is ergonomically positioned higher and within easier reach, to help minimise distraction and reflections1.
Range Rover Velar continues to offer a leather-free cabin option, with new seat designs and materials. The leather-free option combines wool from Danish textile experts KvadratTM with UltrafabricsTM polyurethane textile inserts, featuring a new Diamond Herringbone perforation pattern. Inspired by bespoke tailoring, KvadratTM wool blends are 58 percent lighter than leather and provide a modern appearance and enhanced tactility for a contemporary take on traditional Range Rover luxury.
The innovative textile has been subjected to rigorous in-house durability testing in the Range Rover materials lab to ensure it delivers customary robustness throughout the lifetime of the vehicle, going through 60,000 cycles of abrasion testing – the equivalent of 10 years of use – together with UV testing capable of simulating three years’ of exposure to harsh sunlight, in only one month.
Four new leather colourways are introduced: Cloud, Caraway, Raven Blue and Deep Garnet. These are complemented by a curated choice of details, including new Moonlight Chrome on the steering wheel, centre console surrounds and air vents. Technical Light Anodised or Dark Anodised Aluminium, or tactile Shadow Grey Ash wood veneer trim finishers underline its elegance.
Two new colour options join the exterior palette: Metallic Varesine Blue and Premium Metallic Zadar Grey.
Connected technology
New Range Rover Velar is the first to feature the next-generation Pivi Pro6 infotainment. It incorporates controls for all key vehicle functions within the new 11.4-inch curved glass touchscreen; its clean design appearing as if it is floating.
Alex Heslop, Director of Electrical Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “New Range Rover Velar debuts the next generation of our award-winning Pivi Pro infotainment, with an elegant single curved glass interface and redesigned home screen that control all driving, comfort, and convenience features digitally. Ergonomically designed to reduce reflections and minimise distractions, the new system is intuitive and intelligent, with digital buttons and sliders designed to work in harmony with voice AI to make it quicker and easier to use.”
Controls for the climate, seating and audio volume are always visible at each side of the screen via new sidebars, featuring multi-functional sliding controls on either side. These virtual buttons are always visible and provide immediate access to frequently used items, including individual temperature controls for the front occupants, audio volume and Terrain Response® modes.
At the beginning of every journey, drivers are presented with a Pre-Drive panel for fast access to commonly used features, such as window demisters and the optional heated seats. Once on the move, it disappears to reveal the familiar three-panel home screen that can be customised with trademark Pivi Pro6 intelligence and flexibility.
For added convenience, additional controls in the permanently visible side bars include shortcuts for media and navigation, cameras and window demisters.
The next-generation infotainment was the subject of extensive testing and development, both digitally and physically with human testers, to reduce task and interaction time and deliver the most user-friendly technology experience possible. Approximately 80 percent of tasks are able to be performed within two taps of the home screen.
Pivi Pro6 supports effortless smartphone connectivity with Wireless Apple CarPlay™2. Wireless Android Auto® is also supported, while Wireless Device Charging – from a new stowage area in the centre console – provides immediate fast charging and reduces the need for wires.
With 80 percent of the vehicle’s total ECUs – spanning Pivi Pro infotainment, navigation mapping, and on-board diagnostics as well as chassis and powertrain systems – capable of wireless updates, the Range Rover Velar is able to receive the latest Software Over The Air with no need to visit a retailer.
Pivi Pro6 features twin embedded eSIM technology and cloud-based architecture, meaning it provides full access to a range of online apps5 – including Spotify and Deezer – integrated within the infotainment system.
For simple navigation, what3words is also integrated within Pivi Pro6. The clever mapping technology divides the globe into a grid of 3m x 3m squares, each assigned a unique combination of three random words to provide a what3words address. With these words drivers can navigate to an accurate and precise location.
Immersive sound and technology
The cosseting cabin of the Range Rover Velar minimises road noise with pioneering Active Road Noise Cancellation technology7 – ensuring the New Range Rover Velar offers the quietest vehicle in its class for road noise*. This technology senses external frequencies and automatically processes an anti-noise through the vehicle’s audio system, reducing overall interior noise levels by a minimum of 4dB – the equivalent of turning the volume down by four steps.
A range of powerful Meridian audio systems for New Range Rover Velar is led by the optional Meridian™ 3D Surround Sound System, which delivers high-fidelity music playback using up to 17 speakers and 750W of amplifier power for an immersive listening experience.