Sunday 26th February 2017

Range Rover Velar teased

That gaping 'white space' between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport? Fear not - the Velar is here to fill it!

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What, you thought Land Rover's next big reveal might just be the Defender replacement? Don't be daft, there's still more money in SUVs than there is 'proper' 4x4s, this teaser image for the new Range Rover Velar released ahead of a full debut at the pending Geneva show. In a press release headed "Land Rover reaffirms its position as the world's leading SUV brand" and with a promise of "filling the white space between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport" the Velar is less utilitarian green laner and more urban style statement. Albeit in a very Range Rover style.

Aforementioned 'white space' suggests there's nothing in this middle ground when in fact the German brands seem to have already placed their beach towels on it with cars like the BMW X4 and X6, the Porsche Macan and Mercedes' coupe (we use the term loosely) versions of its GLC and GLE models. See also the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. As such it seems almost surprising it's taken Land Rover this long.

Hard facts are notable by their absence in the press release so it's instead over to design boss Gerry McGovern to do the visionary bit. "We call the Velar the avant garde Range Rover," he says in typical style. "It brings a new dimension of glamour, modernity and elegance to the brand. The Range Rover Velar changes everything."

What, as in everything? Bold promises indeed, there being more information due on the car ahead of Geneva. We do know Velar is apparently taken from the Latin for 'veil', a codename originally used by Land Rover for early prototypes of the original Range Rover. Meanwhile our colleagues at Autocar report it will be based on the Jaguar F-Pace's 'IQ' platform, which means it'll have a longitudinal engine configuration rather than the transverse of the Evoque range. That opens the scope to use bigger engines like V6s and maybe even V8s if demand is there for an SVR version down the line and points to the Velar being positioned considerably upmarket of the Evoque. No doubt smaller-engined versions will also be available too but there is at least the possibility of going both ways.

[Sources: Autocar]

[Filibuster]

Dare I say it?

I quite like that....

[anonymous-user]

That's not how to spell 'vulgar'

[hyphen]

Filibuster said:

Dare I say it?

I quite like that....

But you haven't seen it yet...

[wemorgan]

"The Range Rover Velar changes everything"

If Trump did automotive marketing..............

[sumpoil]

wemorgan said:

"The Range Rover Velar changes everything"

If Trump did automotive marketing..............

.... I thought I felt a slight change in the earth's gravitational field this morning .... I wouldn't be surprised to discover that the speed of light has shifted slightly too .

[loose cannon]

Wow another SUV that looks exactly the same but is half inch smaller and half inch bigger
Total genius !

[godzilla84]

I saw one of those parked up in liverpool a few weeks ago. All camouflaged up. Even the inside was covered in foam padding to hide the dash and seats etc. Looked like a big Evoque. I like it.

[cobra kid]

It's like the C,E,S Class thing. All the same but different size. Boring.

[Bladedancer]

Oh joy.
Another box that looks like all the other boxes. Yay.

[foggy1974]

Am I missing something - where is the Discovery / discovery sport then?
I don't care as they aren't my thing but that's a bit confusing, isn't it?

[foggy1974]

Also, wont that take sales off their Jaguar 4x4 thingy?

[smilo996]

Meanwhile down on the farm, the other family member they never talk about.

Still a long time to wait for the new Defender.

[jhonn]

It's another example of milking the Range Rover name for all it's worth - owners of lesser vehicles will be queuing to 'move on up'to the 'ultimate premium experience of the worlds best off-roader'.

Can't say that I blame JLR for doing what they're doing, though I don't like it much.

[PunterCam]

A bigger Evoque? Thank the lord.

Where's the fking Defender Land Rover?!

[KevinCamaroSS]

foggy1974 said:

Am I missing something - where is the Discovery / discovery sport then?
I don't care as they aren't my thing but that's a bit confusing, isn't it?

Looks just like a Discovery/Discovery Sport to me. Probably sized in between the two......

[CooperS]

foggy1974 said:

Am I missing something - where is the Discovery / discovery sport then?
I don't care as they aren't my thing but that's a bit confusing, isn't it?

That's what I was thinking?

Guess this is part of the Range Rover trilogy and is marketed as superior to the disco in the luxury department and is for those who find the full fat range rover to crass (or more likely can't afford it) but the Evoque doesn't have the size needed for ones family.

For me I like the tonka toy proportions of the outgoing Discovery and the farm yard nature of the now deceased Defender but I get why some of my friends and colleagues have the Range Rover equivalents.

I wonder how the new UK car tax bandings will impact this as surely it sits between 40k to 60k

[Barchettaman]

foggy1974 said:

Also, wont that take sales off their Jaguar 4x4 thingy?

They´ll *all* sell. These things fly out of the showrooms (not literally).

[swisstoni]

KevinCamaroSS said:

foggy1974 said:

Am I missing something - where is the Discovery / discovery sport then?
I don't care as they aren't my thing but that's a bit confusing, isn't it?

Looks just like a Discovery/Discovery Sport to me. Probably sized in between the two......

Yes I thought the 'gaping hole' in the range was nicely filled by the Discovery.
Probably going to develop separate Range Rover and Discovery ranges, with the RR the luxureh one.

[petemurphy]

easy to mock but it looks just what im after.

dont like the discovery as it has a huge arse and dont need 7 seats. rr sport is too big for us and evoque too small and ds has a ste interior.

so velar looks perfect

[PhantomPH]

Looks potentially spot on. OH finds the interior of the Evoque a bit claustrophobic (low roof line and very tall female...) and thinks the RRS is too big when it comes to the practicalities of parking in regular spaces. This looks like problem solved....sign me up!

ETA - posted above was typing exactly the same as me!