It is so cool, it would make an utter geek feel like Brad Pitt
Chief among them is the AWD with intelligent driveline dynamics (IDD) that continually monitors and then adjusts torque distribution between the front and the rear wheels. This system can, depending on traction conditions, send all of the torque to the front or rear wheels. Which is useful of course when the going gets rough, but is even more so when it comes to the question of dynamic abilities. The use of torque vectoring that applies brakes on the inner wheels when it detects understeer, a characteristic that plagues all all-wheel driven vehicles including the Velar, is particularly helpful in staying true to the chosen line. Especially if you like driving fast, as we do, on somewhat narrow and twisty roads. As a matter of fact, even the Adaptive Dynamics system is evidence that Range Rover was more interested in endowing the unconventionally cool Velar with handling as close to that of a car as possible.
Although a tad softer than the Jaguar built on the same platform and certainly the Porsche, the Velar’s suspension ensures that the SUV handles extremely well. Through twists and turns and switchbacks the shift of its 1,874kg kerb weight isn’t too pronounced and she feels fairly composed gunning between corners. Out on the open highway too, the Velar feels planted and the body roll isn’t as much as you would expect in an SUV. Nor does it understeer as much as an AWD SUV would, thanks to that torque vectoring and the other gizmos it has. The ride is surprisingly pliant too for the Velar does an excellent job of isolating occupants from road shocks. A handy characteristic if you’re selling SUVs to the Indian buyer with his affinity for a mildly wallowy ride.
Unfortunately, the version I was in happened to be powered by the P250 version of the Ingenium 2.0 turbo-petrol engine, mated to an 8-speed automatic. Which meant that unlike the higher spec P300 version, the one I had at my disposal could only produce 247bhp at 5500rpm and 365Nm of peak twist. Thankfully, the torque arrives at a rather low 1500rpm, which means dawdling through the city or cruising on open stretches and quick acceleration runs to overtake other vehicles, or simply for fun, is a piece of cake. Things that the Velar does well on instinct. However, should you choose to indulge in a high-speed chase, the engine feels a little breathless at the top. It isn’t incapable. It’s just that the excellent chassis feels like it could take a fair bit more.
The Velar range starts at an ex-showroom price of `78.82 lakh for the four-pot petrol, which is a shade more expensive than Sirish’s prediction of a `75 lakh price tag after he drove the Velar in Norway last year. This particular model will set you back by `85.21 lakh, which isn’t bad considering that the Velar is a CBU. But such unsophisticated chatter about price seems out of place when you’re talking about this new Rangie. After all, can there really be a price to art? ⌧