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Order books for the new Range Rover Velar opened immediately following its world premiere last night and BusinessCar was invited to an exclusive event to see the car in the metal for the first time.
Sitting between the Evoque and Sport in the firm's line-up, the Velar is the fourth model in the current-generation Range Rover family, and P11D prices start from £44,775.
Set to rival the BMW X6, Porsche Macan and its sister car the Jaguar F-Pace, the new Velar sets new standards in interior refinement and features a revolutionary new infotainment system, a sleek design and a host of new tech.
According to bosses, it's the most 'car-like' Range Rover yet, and is designed for life in urban environments, much like its stablemate the Evoque.
"The new Velar moves from the wild to the urban jungle," said Gerry McGovern, chief design officer at Land Rover.
Design has been an obvious focus for the new Velar, and according to the firm it showcases the direction the brand will be heading in for its future products. Its sleek and elegant exterior includes some eye-catching, slimline, adaptive LED lights, which have now doubled their full-beam range to 550m, plus retractable door handles and curvaceous lines that make the new car, according to bosses, more slippery through the air.
"What we are passionate about is our uniqueness as a brand, while being more universally appealing. What we cannot do is become generic," McGovern added.
The exterior design is really only the tip of the iceberg in terms of this new car's talents, though. Slip behind the wheel and the cabin is a masterclass of elegance, refinement and super-modern technology.
Probably the most revolutionary feature is the new infotainment system called TouchPro Duo, which features two 10-inch customisable touchscreens that house all of the car's key functions, including four-wheel drive settings and climate control.
There's also Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices available and 60GB worth of electronic storage space. Other technology innovations include touchpads on the steering wheel and a gesture-controlled tailgate.
A suite of advanced safety technology is available too, including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with a queue-assist function ,and reverse traffic detection.
The Velar has a wheelbase of just under 3m long and legroom is generous throughout, headroom is good too, even with the sweeping roofline. An array of practical storage options in the cabin mean there are plenty of places to store personal belongings on the move, and the boot is large, measuring in at 673 litres.
Although the design and technology steal the majority of headlines, the Velar also, according to bosses, breaks new boundaries for the firm for aerodynamics.
Engineered with Land Rover's off-road capabilities, the Velar is available as all-wheel-drive only and comes with a suite of off-road technology and a ground clearance of 213mm.
An air suspension system automatically lowers and raises the ride height depending on the speed the car is travelling, while the Auto Access Height function automatically lowers the suspension by 40mm when the ignition is turned off, making it easier to get in and out of the car. If venturing into water, maximum wade depth is an impressive 650mm, and the Velar can also tow up to 2,500kg.
Engine-wise, there'll be three petrols and three diesels available, all paired with an eight-speed automatic. The 180hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium diesel is likely to particularly appeal to company car drivers and business executives with CO2 emissions as low as 142g/km, while a more powerful 240hp version will also be available. It emits from 152g/km and will complete the 0-62mph sprint in 6.8 seconds. These sit in the 30% and 32% 2017/18 BIK brackets respectively.
Other engines include a new 250hp four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol, a 300hp V6 diesel, and the supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol version does 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds.
Available in five trims - Velar, S, SE, HSE or a sportier R-Dynamic - the new Range Rover Velar will make its public debut at next week's Geneva motor show. Orders are open now for first-edition models and the car will officially go on sale in mid-July with first deliveries following shortly after.
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