Range Rover Velar

Range Rover Velar vs Porsche Cayenne vs Audi Q7: luxury SUV mega-test

Can the new Velar justify its high asking price and beat the standard-setting Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne?

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...rsche-cayenne-vs-audi-q7-luxury-suv-mega-test

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JAGUAR LAND ROVER TO ADOPT NEW NAMING STRATEGY?

A fresh report out of the United Kingdom suggests that Jaguar Land Rover is preparing to roll out a new model naming strategy that recently debuted on the Range Rover Velar.

Unlike Audi’s new (somewhat confusing) naming convention, the Coventry-based manufacturer’s latest badging strategy keeps things relatively simple and – dare we say it – logical.

According to AutoExpress, which published reader shots of an F-Type wearing a “P380 AWD” badge, the British automaker is set to adopt the new nomenclature across its range over the next few months. The Velar, of course, already features this new naming convention.

So, what does – in this example – P380 AWD actually mean? Well, the “P” clearly refers to petrol, while the “380” stands for the engine’s peak power output in horsepower. As AutoExpress points out, the new 2,0-litre four-cylinder F-Type will thus wear the P300 badge.

Other examples that we’ve already seen in the SA-bound Velar line-up include the oil-burning D180, D240 and D300 as well as the petrol-powered P250 and P380.

The British report adds that upcoming electric vehicles (such as the Jaguar I-Pace) will likewise adopt the new convention, but prefixed by an “E”.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/jaguar-land-rover-to-adopt-new-naming-strategy/
 
Euro NCAP test: Range Rover Velar ‘one of the best’…

Euro NCAP has released the results of its latest crash test, with the new Range Rover Velar scoring five stars and being rated as “one of the best overall performers” in its segment.

The Velar is the fifteenth SUV to have been crash-tested by the safety authority since the start of 2016, scoring “good results in all aspects of safety”. The derivative tested was a right-hand-drive 2,0 diesel equipped with four-wheel drive.

The Velar scored 93% for adult occupant safety, 85% for child occupant safety, 74% for pedestrian safety and 72% in the safety assist category.

Euro NCAP reported that the passenger compartment of the Velar “remained stable” in the frontal offset test, with protection of the six- and ten-year-old dummies rated as “good or adequate, except for the neck of the ten-year-old dummy, protection of which was rated as marginal”.

In terms of pedestrian protection, Euro NCAP reported “some weak and poor results” when the dummy’s head hit the stiff windscreen pillars. The bumper provided good protection to pedestrian’s legs while protection of the pelvis areas was mixed, with both good and poor results recorded.

Meanwhile, testing of the autonomous emergency braking system at highway speeds demonstrated “good performance, with collisions avoided or mitigated in all tests”.

“Twenty years on from when Euro NCAP started, it’s encouraging to see a competitive safety environment still working. All of the SUVs we have tested in the last couple of years have had a five-star rating and the Velar is towards the top of the table in all areas of assessment,” said Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general of Euro NCAP.

“That’s great news for consumers, who are able to buy the kind of cars they like with the confidence that they offer high levels of protection.”

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/euro-ncap-test-range-rover-velar-one-of-the-best/

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FiestaST said:
Euro NCAP Crash Test of the Velar

[video=youtube_share;Vz1x-GFI4ng]https://youtu.be/Vz1x-GFI4ng[/video]
Click to expand...

Is it just me or does the driver's side airbag look like it has a happy face?
 
Land Rover design boss is ‘nervous’ about copycats

Land Rover design chief Gerry McGovern says he is “nervous” about copycats stealing the design of the brand’s concept cars.

Speaking to Autocar, McGovern made reference to Chinese brands that had copied the British automaker’s designs in the past. Jiangling Motors, of course, offers a Landwind X7 that takes more than mere inspiration from the styling of the Range Rover Evoque, something that has led to a lawsuit.

“We’re nervous about showing show cars a couple of years out as you can be copied just like that,” McGovern told Autocar.

McGovern went on to insist that the brand had to “protect” the massive investments that went into developing new cars, right from the concept stage.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/land-rover-design-boss-is-nervous-about-copycats/
 
DRIVEN: Range Rover Velar D300 R-Dynamic HSE

Considering the positively gaping hole created between the Range Rover Sport and the entry-level Evoque when the latter arrived way back in 2011, the launch of the box-fresh Velar – which inherits its name from a series of late-1960s pre-production mules that ultimately heralded the original Range Rover – should come as no surprise.

What is fascinating, however, is that the fourth member of the Rangie family doesn’t slot quite as neatly between its established siblings as one might expect.

Indeed, with an overall length of 4 803 mm, the Velar is a whopping 438 mm longer than the five-door Evoque (although we expect this model to grow a little in its upcoming second generation), yet just 53 mm shorter bumper-to-bumper than the Range Rover Sport.

It’s a similar case when it comes to local pricing, with the Sport range kicking off just north of R1-million and the Velar line-up starting a smidgen south of the seven-figure-mark, with plenty of overlap between the two … and even with the Land Rover Discovery (Evoque pricing, meanwhile, begins well below R800 000).

Should the Whitley-based automaker thus expect its newest creation to take a hefty bite out of the Range Rover Sport’s impressive monthly registrations (it routinely outsells the Evoque in South Africa)? Well, while logic might suggest an immediate risk of sales cannibalism, the two vehicles are really rather different; each designed to appeal to a separate set of buyers.

A fresh target market

Like the Evoque before it, the sleek new Velar’s primary task is to lure in shoppers who would have otherwise not considered a Range Rover, while the Sport, like the flagship Range Rover above it, appeals largely to an existing, older customer base. Indeed, the Velar clearly targets a somewhat younger, trendier consumer, as evidenced by its more car-like underpinnings, myriad customisation options (although specifying your vehicle exactly as you want it could result in a wait of between four and six months) and a local line-up that stretches to an almost-incomprehensible 42 derivatives. Choice? Sir has plenty…

The British brand offers four specification levels (base, S, SE and HSE), each with the option of an R-Dynamic pack, which lends the SUV a sportier look (courtesy of items such as a unique front bumper, gloss-black mirror caps and some added interior trim), as well as a pair of limited-run “First Edition” variants, fitted as standard with every conceivable extra from an options list that will leave your eyes spinning and your wallet considerably lighter.

Then there’s the choice of the latest petrol and diesel Ingenium four-pots (the former was not available to sample on the day), as well as the automaker’s familiar V6 units, again offered in petrol and oil-burning flavours. Sorry folks, no heavy-hitting V8 just yet…

Diesel oomph

We spent much of our time with the largest diesel, a 3,0-litre six-cylinder (complete with parallel-sequential turbochargers) that directs its 221 kW and 700 N.m (the latter on tap from as low as 1 500 r/min) to all four corners via a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission. That’s enough oomph to propel this two-tonne luxury barge to three figures in a claimed 6,5 seconds.

And, fittingly, the burly oil-burner is as refined as it is responsive, with very little diesel clatter and virtually no vibration making it into the well-insulated cabin. While the 2,0-litre four-cylinder diesel is noticeably more vocal and the lively 280 kW supercharged V6 petrol prone to taking far heartier swigs from its 63-litre tank, the D300 serves up the most pleasing mix of refinement, economy and performance.

While the Velar – which features supercar-like flush exterior door handles that are deployed when the vehicle is unlocked – borrows the dynamically gifted Jaguar F-Pace’s aluminium underpinnings (also shared with the XE and XF sedans) as well as its 2 874 mm wheelbase, it is markedly more comfortable – over a variety of surfaces – than its Leaper-badged cousin. The steering, too, feels more geared towards comfort than feedback.

The six-cylinder Velar models are fitted as standard with air suspension (boosting ground clearance from 213 mm to 251 mm), allowing them to waft over poorly finished tarmac in proper Range Rover fashion, even on alloys measuring upwards of 20 inches. Being softly sprung naturally results in obvious body roll through the bends, but grip levels are high enough to offset any loss of driver confidence when pushing on.

Off the tarmac…

And off the beaten track? Well, while Land Rover will make much of the Velar’s “all-terrain capability” thanks to standard features such as the brand’s familiar Terrain Response system and hill descent control (along with options like wade-sensing and an active locking rear differential), we didn’t have the opportunity to put it to a proper off-road test.

We did, however, spend a fair amount of time negotiating damp gravel roads, where the Velar displayed the sort of surefootedness one would expect from a fairly high-riding SUV (although it was the sort of surface on which we saw Volkswagen Polos and the like happily gunning along in the opposite direction).

Interestingly, the Velar offers a lower, more car-like driving position than we’re used to from a Range Rover. Still, it’s a fantastic place to sit, considering the high perceived quality of the materials (bar some scratchy plastic low down on the doors), the refreshingly minimalistic facia and the level of technology on offer.

The Tata-backed brand’s new Touch Pro Duo infotainment system – comprising two, stacked 10-inch touchscreens – takes pride of place in the centre of the dashboard, with the lower display adding two physical rotary controllers (in addition to a volume button) whose functions change according to the chosen mode. The system is highly configurable, and together with the 12,3-inch, Audi-like digital instrument cluster, allows the driver to place relevant information pretty much wherever they prefer.

Using the touchscreen system (and particularly the lower display, to which the climate control functions default) on the move, however, isn’t the easiest task. The capacitive buttons on the steering wheel, too, take some getting used to. On the whole, though, it’s an splendid, spacious cabin (rear leg-room is particularly generous) that should become increasingly user-friendly with familiarity.

Between segments?

Exactly where does the Velar fit into the mid-size SUV battle? Again, it’s not exactly clear-cut. In terms of size, the newest Range Rover sits somewhere between the BMW X4 and X6 (and likewise between the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé and GLE Coupé), while more direct rivals include the Porsche Macan and aforementioned (cheaper) F-Pace, although these (along with the upcoming Alfa Romeo Stelvio) are far more dynamically poised. Pricing, though, is another story, stretching past R1,3-million for the range-topper (if you don’t count the more expensive First Edition models, that is), before even a single tick has been added to the options column.

Steep pricing or not, the mighty impressive Velar – which ushers in a fresh, overwhelmingly well-received design language that has since been echoed by the facelifted Range Rover and Sport models – seems destined to achieve its goal of attracting new customers to the brand. It places more emphasis on style and technology than the outright “go anywhere” ability for which its larger siblings (and various Land Rover cousins) have become renowned, but that’s at least part of what makes it distinct enough from the similarly sized Sport to succeed … and not step on any of its siblings’ toes in the process.

Fast facts

Model: Range Rover Velar D300 R-Dynamic HSE
Price: R1 351 758
Engine: V6, turbodiesel
Power: 221 kW @ 4000 r/min
Torque: 700 N.m @ 1 500 r/min
0-100 km/h: 6,5 seconds
Top Speed: 241 km/h
Fuel Consumption: 6,4 L/100 km
CO2: 167 g/km
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Maintenance Plan: Five year/100 000 km

http://www.carmag.co.za/driving_impression/driven-range-rover-velar-d300-r-dynamic-hse/

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Saw about 20 of them all covered in mud at Shell Stellenbosch yesterday,very sexy car.Some sort of promo.
 
Range Rover Velar: 5 Cool Features

The new Range Rover Velar executive SUV has arrived in South Africa and it’s packed with super-cool technology. These are some of the newcomer's coolest features:

The Velar, the latest member of the Range Rover family is now available in South Africa and it will rival products such as the Volvo XC90, Audi Q7 and the Jaguar F-Pace. We attended the local launch this week where we not only drove 3 of the 6 engines options on offer, but we also experienced much of the technology that the Velar has to offer.

We came away quite impressed with the Velar. Not only did it deliver good performance and a comfortable ride on tar, but it also dealt with gravel roads with aplomb. However, the full breadth of its offroad capability is yet to be proven. It’s a refined product with excellent interior build quality and apart from its stylish and elegant design, the Velar is packed with great technological features.

Here are some of the coolest features that the new Velar has to offer.

Flush door handles

Retractable and stylish hidden door handles are a unique feature on the Velar.

Starting with the exterior, perhaps one of the first things you will notice on the Velar is its flush, deployable door handles. Upon unlocking the Velar, the door handles conveniently deploy from the bodywork and retract when the vehicle is locked or on the move. It’s a small detail, but adds significant appeal to the Velar’s overall sleek design. The flush door handles contribute to the Velar’s aerodynamic performance and with an overall drag coefficient of 0.32, the Velar is the most aerodynamically efficient Land Rover built to date.

Matrix-Laser LED headlights

A total of 4 LED lighting options are available to buyers with the Matrix-laser LED headlights offering a lighting range of over 500 metres.

LED headlights are standard across the range. However, buyers can choose between 4 different headlight options including the standard LED headlights, Premium LED headlights with signature daytime running lights (DRLs), Matrix LED headlights with signature DRLs and the top-of-the-range Matrix-laser LED headlights with signature DRLs.

The latter offers a laser high beam, static cornering lights, adaptive front lighting, high beam assist and animated indicator lights. The Matrix-laser LED headlights offer excellent illumination and are 5 times more effective than standard LED headlights with a lighting range of over 500 metres.

Comprehensive infotainment system

The two 10-inch touchscreens eliminate most of the buttons in the cabin resulting in an elegant and minimalist interior design.

Stepping inside the Velar, you will notice that there are very few buttons in the cabin. This is because buttons have been replaced with touchscreen technology. The dominant feature inside the Velar is undoubtedly the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system. It comprises two 10-inch touchscreens that house all the interior and infotainment functions as well as most of the vehicle’s settings.

The bottom screen allows the user/driver to choose and set various vehicle functions including driving modes and suspension settings and it also controls seat functions and the climate control air conditioning system. The higher screen is dedicated to functions such as navigation, Bluetooth telephony, music and camera viewing. It’s an impressively slick system and it’s very intuitive and easy to use. When not in operation, the top screen folds back into the dashboard.

The lower touchscreen puts most of the vehicle's functions at the driver's fingertips.

A cool option offered on the Velar is the Interactive Driver Display. It’s a 12.3-inch high-definition digital screen with 4 configurable modes that give the driver access to a host of functions such as vital driving information, navigation, media and telephony. There are also two 8-inch viewing screens integrated into front headrests for rear passenger entertainment, as well as wireless headphones and HDMI, MHL and USB connections.

Off-road capability

The Velar can go offroad and it has a wading depth limit of 650 mm.

The Velar features a Terrain Response system that can be used in various situations depending on the terrain. The system offers 6 settings including Comfort, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts, Sand, ECO and Dynamic mode, all of which can be selected on the lower 10-inch touchscreen. All Terrain Progress Control and Terrain Response 2 are offered as options. Another handy feature is Wade Sensing (optional) which uses ultrasonic sensors to warn the driver (visually and audibly) when the 650 mm wading depth is being reached. An image of the vehicle is shown on the touchscreen depicting the current depth and the maximum wading depth. The 360-degree camera system also gives you an all-around view of the vehicle which is useful in tricky terrain.

In addition to all-wheel drive and active locking rear differential, the Velar is also equipped with Hill Descent Control and Hill Launch Assist. Electronic air suspension is offered as an option and it allows the driver to adjust the ride height of the Velar in an offroad situation. The height of the Velar can be altered by as much as 50 mm, which also makes it easier to load bulky items into the 673-litre load bay. The Velar will also automatically lower by 40 mm when you come to a stop, making it easier for you to get in and out of the vehicle.

Extensive engine choice

Buyers have lots of choice in terms of engines, trim grades and optional equipment to make their Velar unique.

A total of 6 engine variants are on offer for the Velar with 3 diesel engines and 3 petrol engines available to buyers. All engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The Velar range kicks off with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine with 132 kW/430 Nm and a claimed consumption figure of 5.4 L/100 km.

Moving up the range is a more powerful 2.0-litre twin-turbodiesel engine with 177 kW/500 Nm and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 5.8 L/100 km.

The most powerful diesel engine on offer is the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine with 221 kW/700 Nm and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 6.4 L/100km.

On the petrol front, the range starts with a 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine with 183 kW365 Nm and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 7.6 L/100 km.

A more powerful 221 kW/400 Nm 2.0-litre turbopetrol is also offered, carrying a claimed fuel consumption figure of 7.8 L/100 km.

The range-topping engine is a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with 280 kW/450 Nm and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 9.4 L/100km.

In addition to the extensive engine offering, the personalisation options on the Velar are almost endless and buyers can choose between various colours, interior trim/finishes and trim grades (S, SE, HSE, R-Dynamic S, R-Dynamic SE and R-Dynamic HSE). A bespoke Velar First Edition is also offered.

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/range-rover-velar-5-cool-features/44094/
 
Classy new Range Rover Velar reaches SA

Range Rover's highly anticipated Velar has been officially launched in South Africa, with prices starting at R947 700.

Squeezing into a niche between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport, the mid-sized five-seater packages the brand’s well-known offroad ability into the most modern and high-tech Range Rover yet seen.

All-wheel drive, a generous ground clearance and the availability of height-adjustable air suspension (varying the ride height between 213mm and 251mm) make this a true adventure vehicle, but one that looks almost too smart to get scratched and muddied.

But well-heeled moms doing school runs will find lots to appreciate. The Velar follows latest Range Rover convention with its lightweight aluminium body, while it’s styled with an almost Swedish-type minimalism that uses the most slender headlights yet to appear on a production Land Rover, and flush-deployable door handles that emphasise the minimalism and contribute to a low drag coefficient.

But the highlight is the smart new high-tech interior that makes many other SUVs, including other Range Rovers, seem rather dated by comparison. Step into the digital new-age cabin and you’re greeted by one of the neatest and most uncluttered dashboards yet seen in any vehicle. The Touch Pro Duo infotainment system is the centrepiece of the dash and there are just three physical knobs to twirl; everything else is controlled via two 25cm touchscreens. It all seems fairly easy and intuitive to use, and if you know your way around a tablet or smartphone you’ll feel right at home.

The steering wheel has supplementary buttons for the audio system and cruise control and even here there’s special Velar treatment, in that the audio volume is controlled by a touch-sensitive ring that you rub clockwise or anti clockwise with your thumb.

All this tech is set into a smart, well-groomed cabin that feels like a Versace suit. The uncluttered dash and plush materials all make for a serene environment.

When it goes on sale the Velar will be offered in standard, S, SE and HSE equipment levels, all of these versions available with an optional R-Dynamic cosmetic pack to add some visual flair. The flagship spec includes electronically adjustable air suspension (the others have regular steel springs), adaptive cruise control, navigation, a digital instrument panel, and an 825-watt Meridian Surround audio system among others.

There's also a Velar First Edition, available only for the 2018 model year, loaded with every available option.

The range will be powered by a selection of existing Land Rover engines starting with a 132kW 2-litre four cylinder turbo diesel, moving up to a 177kW 2-litre four cylinder twin turbo diesel, a 221kW 3-litre V6 turbo diesel, a 183kW 2-litre four cylinder petrol turbo, a 221kW 2-litre petrol turbo, and topped off by the 280kW 3-litre V6 supercharged petrol.

Last month we drove the supercharged V6 HSE R-Dynamic flagship around Kyalami at a media preview event. Along with its healthy power output this altitude-compensated V6 makes a gutsy 450Nm of torque and feeds it to its all-wheel drive system via an eight speed automatic transmission. Land Rover claims a very brisk 5.7 second 0-100km/h figure and a governed 250km/h top speed.

A racetrack’s not the ideal environment for a high-riding SUV as it ruthlessly exaggerates body roll in the corners, but the exercise did affirm the flagship Velar’s very quick and instant acceleration, and ability to effortlessly gulp distance. It also highlighted this SUV's impressive refinement, and the whole minimalist theme extends to the lack of significant wind or mechanical noises.

The gears self-shifted very smoothly and the brakes handled the racetrack punishment impressively, without fading.

The local order books are open and customers can build their own Range Rover Velar using the configurator on the www.landrover.co.za website.

PRICES - Velar

2.0 diesel 132kW (D180) R947 700
2.0 diesel 132kW (D180) S R1 028 600
2.0 diesel 132kW (D180) HS R1 077 900
2.0 diesel 132kW (D180) HSE R1 172 400
2.0 diesel 177kW (D240) R1 010 400
2.0 diesel 177kW (D240) S R1 091 300
2.0 diesel 177kW (D240) SE R1 140 600
2.0 diesel 177kW (D240) HSE R1 235 100
2.0 petrol 184kW (P250) R947 700
2.0 petrol 184kW (P250) S R1 028 600
2.0 petrol 184kW (P250) SE R1 077 900
2.0 petrol 184kW (P250) HSE R1 172 400
3.0 diesel 221kW (D300) R1 089 000
3.0 diesel 221kW (D300) S R1 169 800
3.0 diesel 221kW (D300) SE R1 219 100
3.0 diesel 221kW (D300) HSE R1 313 700
3.0 petrol 280kW (D380) R1 099 400
3.0 petrol 280kW (D380) S R1 180 300
3.0 petrol 280kW (D380) SE R1 229 600
3.0 petrol 280kW (D380) HSE R1 324 100

Velar R-Dynamic

2.0 diesel 132kW (D180) R980 500
2.0 diesel 132kW (D180) S R1 061 300
2.0 diesel 132kW (D180) HS R1 110 600
2.0 diesel 132kW (D180) HSE R1 205 200
2.0 diesel 177kW (D240) R1 043 200
2.0 diesel 177kW (D240) S R1 124 000
2.0 diesel 177kW (D240) SE R1 173 300
2.0 diesel 177kW (D240) HSE R1 267 900
2.0 petrol 184kW (P250) R980 500
2.0 petrol 184kW (P250) S R1 061 300
2.0 petrol 184kW (P250) SE R1 110 600
2.0 petrol 184kW (P250) HSE R1 205 200
3.0 diesel 221kW (D300) R1 121 800
3.0 diesel 221kW (D300) S R1 202 600
3.0 diesel 221kW (D300) SE R1 251 900
3.0 diesel 221kW (D300) HSE R1 346 400
3.0 petrol 280kW (D380) R1 132 200
3.0 petrol 280kW (D380) S R1 213 100
3.0 petrol 280kW (D380) SE R1 262 400
3.0 petrol 280kW (D380) HSE R1 356 900

Velar First Edition

3.0 diesel 221kW (D300) R1 529 300
2.0 diesel 280kW (D380) R1 539 800

https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/latest-launches/classy-new-range-rover-velar-reaches-sa-11627002
 
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