Range Rover Velar to launch in Malaysia in Q2 2018

Jaguar Land Rover has announced that the Range Rover Velar will be coming to Malaysia. The new model – which was designed to fill “the white space” between the Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport – will arrive early in the second quarter of 2018. It is now open for booking.

It is unmistakably a modern Land Rover product, but the Velar is defined by what JLR calls a “visually reductive approach” and attention to detail. The designers highlight the SUV’s visual balance, powerful proportions, generous 2,874 mm wheelbase (Evoque 2,660 mm, RR Sport 2,923 mm) and taut tapered lines of the rear. Large alloys – 22-inch items seen here – enhance the Velar’s presence.

Headlining details include full LED headlights (the most slender ever to appear on a production Land Rover, segment-first Matrix-Laser LED headlights available) and the flush deployable door handles, a Range Rover-first. The latter emphasises the Velar’s reductive, sculptured form and contributes to the low drag coefficient of Cd 0.32 – this is the most aerodynamic LR ever.

Inside, the Velar doesn’t depart from the LR style template, but that “reduction” approach is clear, with switches being kept to an absolute minimum. The centrepiece is the new Touch Pro Duo infotainment system featuring two 10-inch touchscreens integrated seamlessly behind “secret-until-lit” surfaces. They are complemented by two rotary controllers and a row of capacitive switches. The system is powered by an Intel quad-core processor and a high-speed 60GB solid-state drive.

The thin capacitive polycarbonate screens also control Terrain Response, which eliminates the traditional dial and hard buttons. Besides a clean look, it creates extra space in the centre console. The rotary transmission controller rises silently from the centre console on start-up.

The instrument panel can be two analogue dials and MID in between, or a 12.3-inch Interactive Driver Display digital panel, depending on trim level. There’s also a full-colour head-up display and capacitive steering wheel switches that benefit from situation-based options.

Versatility is not forgotten. Boot volume is 632 litres, expandable to 1,731 litres. The 40:20:40 rear seats feature a ski-flap, and there are remote seat release levers and a gesture-controlled (kick) power tailgate option. The Activity Key option – a waterproof, shockproof wristband with integrated transponder – allows customers to enjoy outdoor pursuits without having to carry the standard key fob.

Unique in the segment, the Velar offers a sustainable, premium textile seat material as an alternative to leather. The Dapple Grey material was developed together with Kvadrat, Europe’s leading manufacturer of high-quality design textiles, and is complemented with Suedecloth inserts in Ebony or Light Oyster. Of course, Windsor Leather is available, along with 17- and 23-speaker Meridian audio systems.

Four-cylinder Ingenium 2.0L diesels are offered in 180 PS and 240 PS variants. They are joined by two 2.0L four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engines (250 PS and 300 PS) and a 3.0L V6 diesel (300 PS/700 Nm) and 380 PS supercharged 3.0L V6 petrol. The latter has a “unique soundtrack” and a 0-100 km/h time of 5.7 seconds.

22.12.16 V1

22.12.16 V1

All engines are matched to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics. The Velar features four-corner air suspension (available on six-pot models), class-leading ground clearance of up to 251 mm (213 mm with coil springs), wading depth of up to 650 mm (600 mm with coil springs) and Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 and All Terrain Progress Control. The latter two are optional.

The Velar and Velar R-Dynamic core range comprises Standard, S, SE or HSE specifications. Customers can also specify Black and Luxury Exterior Packs. The Velar is produced at the company’s Solihull factory in the UK.

It looks really sleek, don’t you think? For more info and updates, register your interest with Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia.

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