What to expect from the Range Rover Velar?

The Range Rover Velar SUV was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this year. It is the fourth member of the Range Rover family and is positioned between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport. The Velar has now been listed on the official Range Rover Indian website, indicating that the launch is just around the corner. The bookings for Velar is expected to commence from September this year with a subsequent official launch in December.

The British marque will introduce the Velar in India in three variants – Standard, R-Dynamic and First Edition. As Range Rover nomenclature goes, both the Standard and the sporty R-Dynamic derivative will be available in Velar, Velar S, Velar SE and Velar HSE trim. Engine options remain the same across all the variants i.e., two diesel and one petrol powertrain.

The carmaker is calling the Velar as an “avant-garde” Range Rover, a name derived from the original Range Rover prototypes of 1969. The Velar is pitted against the likes of the BMW X6 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe with its unique body style. The five-seater measures 4803mm in length, 2145mm wide and 1665mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,874mm. The design of the Velar is unmistakably Range Rover. The front fascia is all about the sleek mesh grille with sweptback modern-looking headlamps. The profile has a distinct shoulder line running all the way to the back with blacked out pillars and roof. The large 22-inch wheels fill up the flared arches and the upswept rear overhang is complemented by the sloping roof and the raked D-pillar.

In typical Range Rover fashion, the Velar's minimalistic yet high quality interiors keep the car looking upmarket. All the tools of creature comfort, infotainment and safety are packed into the Velar. The seats get a 20-way adjustment with memory, recline and heating/cooling in the front. The upholstery is all leather, while the Meridian 825W system takes care of the sound system. The new state-of-art Touch-Pro Duo infotainment system is also available with smartphone mirroring and gesture control. The SUV gets a panoramic sunroof, individual zone climate control, power gesture tailgate and Navigation Pro, with personalisation packs.

The entry-level 2.0-litre straight four D180 Ingenium diesel produces 177bhp/430Nm while the 3.0-litre D300 puts out 296bhp/700Nm. The petrol P250 2.0-litre four-pot pushes out 246/365Nm. All the engines will come mated to eight-speed automatic gearboxes and power all four wheels through the highly efficient torque-on demand-systems. It also gets the Land Rover’s famous Terrain Response system that allows the driver to adjust vehicle settings to suit prevailing surface conditions, with a choice of Eco, Comfort, Grass-Gravel-Snow, Mud-Ruts, Sand, and Dynamic mode.

When launched in India, the Velar is expected to be priced between Rs 80 lakh and 1.1 Crore. At this price range, the Velar will lock horns with the likes of Mercedes-Benz GLS, the BMW X5, the Volvo XC90 R-Design and the Audi Q7.