Range Rover plots a sporty SUV

All-new Velar to sit in between Evoque and RR Sport to take the fight straight to German SUVs

The Range Rover Velar will soon be unveiled as the most radical-looking Range Rover in history: a mid-sized SUV-coupe designed to lay down the toughest challenge yet to Porsche’s all-conquering Macan and rivals such as the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe.

The new model, which imaginatively revives the Velar name used on original secret Range Rover prototypes in the late 1960s, is designed to plug the price gap between the 4 million baht Evoque and the 8 million baht Range Rover Sport.

Due for official launch at the Geneva motor show next month, the Velar (whose name means “veil” or “cover” in Italian) will be built alongside the Range Rover Sport and Jaguar F-Pace in the ultra-modern aluminium body and assembly plant in Solihull, UK.

Initially dubbed “Evoque XL”, the new fiveseater is understood to be most closely related under the skin to the Jaguar F-Pace, with which it shares JLR’s IQ platform. It will be powered by a range of north-south engines rather than the transverse units used in the Halewoodmanufactured Evoque. The F-Pace relationship suggests that the Velar will be a little longer (and probably roomier) than the Macan. Every version of the new model will be four-wheel drive.

The Velar’s generous ground clearance and short front and rear overhangs suggest it will be a capable performer off-road. But like the F-Pace, it won’t have the separate low-range gear set featured on more expensive, more specialist Land Rovers and Range Rovers. Despite that, the car will be positioned at the centre of the ‘lifestyle vehicle’ market, with a greater focus on urban use than off-road performance.

One major point of difference between the Velar and its German rivals is likely to be the interior. Land Rover design boss Gerry McGovern’s team has a track record of designing increasingly high-quality cabins, while simplifying the control and switch layouts, whereas Porsche has a more comprehensive, aircraft-like approach. The Velar’s interior will progress further in areas where McGovern believes his cars already have an edge.

The Velar will be powered by JLR’s extensive array of four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines, both diesel and petrol. The four-pot units will be from the established Ingenium range. JLR will launch the Velar with the Ford-sourced V6s currently used throughout its range but will replace them during the model’s life with owndesign Ingenium inline-six petrol and diesel units. These 3.0-litre engines are modular versions of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium units with two extra cylinders.

Although it is possible the Velar could use the electric powertrain JLR is developing for its upcoming Jaguar I-Pace SUV, it is more likely to feature a hybrid version. Offering a hybrid, especially a plug-in, would cater for buyers who live in the megacities of Europe, Asia and the US, which are getting ever closer to specifying zeroemissions vehicles for their most congested areas.

JLR already has a hybrid powertrain in the range, used in the 340hp 3.0 SDV6 HEV Range Rover Sport, but the Velar is more likely to use a newly developed plug-in system based on the 295hp four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine.

A range-topping high-performance variant could offer outstanding pace, particularly if Land Rover chooses to install its most powerful 550hp supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine in the Velar. The aluminium-bodied vehicle could weigh as little as 1,800kg. If that target is achieved, it would give the Velar a significant advantage over the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE Coupe. A V8-equipped Velar could be priced at around 10 million baht in Thailand.