An updated Range Rover Velar with new infotainment technology, new design features and a choice of five powertrains including an electric plug-in hybrid option is now available in South Africa. Here’s everything you need to know about this new Land Rover hitting the streets of the republic.
Interior and connectivity
According to Land Rover, the new Velar features a reductive design, emphasised with beautifully integrated digital screens that are now fitted with Land Rover’s state-of-the-art infotainment system, Pivi and Pivi Pro.
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Pivi is designed around ease of use. A dedicated power source ensures the screens and navigation system are ready to go in seconds while an embedded data connection means customers have access to the latest maps, apps and vehicle software modules updates, reducing the need to visit a retailer. Spotify is integrated directly within the infotainment menu for the first time, and there’s Bluetooth connectivity for two phones at once.
The experience inside the Range Rover Velar is now an even calmer sanctuary with the addition of Active Road Noise Cancellation. The intelligent technology works like a pair of high-end noise cancellation headphones, constantly monitoring vibrations from the road surface and calculating the opposite phase sound wave needed to remove the noise heard by the occupants. The effect is subtle, but the minimum reduction of 4 decibels ensures an even more refined and calming interior space. The system is even able to adjust the level and position of sounds played into the cabin based on the number of passengers and their position inside the vehicle by using the seatbelt sensors.
A new Cabin Air Filtration system helps to reduce levels of harmful particulates, pollen and even odours inside the Velar. The new system – introduced in addition to the existing Cabin Air Ionisation feature – filters out fine particulate matter, allergens, pollen and even strong smells. Activated via a ‘Purify’ button in the lower touchscreen, it is capable of filtering ultrafine particulates (up to and even below PM2.5).
Also available is the new second-generation wearable Activity Key, which can totally replace the traditional key fob when necessary. The water-resistant and shock-proof wrist device now incorporates an LCD watch and allows customers to start, stop, lock and unlock the vehicle, with no need to take a traditional key fob out with them.
Birds eye view
The new Range Rover Velar is also fitted with a suite of new cameras enabling two key new features – 3D Surround Camera and ClearSight Ground View, both of which are fitted as standard. The 3D Surround Camera displays a real-time external 3D perspective of the vehicle via the 10-inch touchscreen – useful for low-speed manoeuvres such as parking by a kerb and getting in and out of tight spaces or junctions. The 3D surround camera can even display a plan view from above – seemingly making the car appear transparent, a feature useful for manoeuvring across different terrains.
Another new innovative camera feature, enabled by the 3D Surround Camera, is the award-winning ClearSight Ground View. It cleverly stitches together camera feeds to offer a virtual view underneath the bonnet, rendering the bonnet seemingly invisible. Cameras positioned in the front grille and on the door mirrors offer an accurate representation of different terrain or potential hazards. A virtual 180-degree view helps make manoeuvring easier at speeds up to 30km/h.
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Pick your engine
The Velar also has an expanded engine choice to suit every customer. Choose from the new P400e plug-in hybrid (PHEV) delivering impressive range and CO2 from just 53g/km; a new family of in-line six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, and more efficient four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.
The new 2.0-litre four-cylinder P400e plug-in hybrid offers a smooth and refined drive with its 221kW petrol engine and 105kW electric motor, offering an impressive 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds. A 17.1kWh lithium-ion battery, located under the boot floor, can be charged to 80 percent in just 30 minutes using a fast DC charge point, or 1 hour 40 minutes using a standard 7kW wallbox.
With zero tailpipe emissions in electric mode, an impressive real-world all-electric range of 61km, fuel economy as low as 2.3 litres/100km and CO2 emissions from just 53g/km, the Range Rover Velar is now even more sustainable by design. The PHEV powertrain works with an advanced eight-speed automatic transmission, which combines lightweight construction and highly efficient operation to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Drivers are able to select between three driving modes to best suit their requirements, whether they are making short urban journeys or long-distance highway driving:
1. EV (Electric Vehicle) mode – enables the vehicle to prioritise running solely on the electric power using the energy stored in the battery, for quiet, zero-tailpipe emissions journeys.
2. HYBRID mode (the default driving mode) – combines petrol and electric drive. This mode optimises the comfort and efficiency of the hybrid system, automatically and seamlessly combining the electric motor and petrol engine. The strategy adapts to the driving conditions and the remaining charge in the hybrid battery. Additionally, entering a destination in the navigation system enables the Predictive Energy Optimisation (PEO) function, which intelligently integrates route and GPS location data to maximise efficiency and comfort for the selected journey.
3. SAVE mode – prioritises the combustion engine as its energy source, maintaining the battery State of Charge at the chosen level, for deployment at a specific point in the journey – for example when entering urban areas.
A new family of 3.0-litre straight-six Ingenium engines has also been introduced to the Range Rover Velar. The P340 delivers acceleration from 0 – 100km/h in 6.3 seconds. The straight-six Ingenium petrol engine is lightweight – with a 12.9kg saving on the unit it replaces – and features a number of innovations including mild-hybrid (MHEV) technology.
Meanwhile, the new straight-six D300 diesel engine is also 7kg lighter than the previous V6 with acceleration from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds. A next-generation 2.0-litre, four-cylinder Ingenium diesel engine – badged D200 – now replaces the previous D180 and D240 options, with CO2 emissions from 165g/km* and fuel consumption of up 6.3l/100km. The P250, a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder Ingenium petrol offers an average fuel consumption of 7.8l/100km and CO2 emissions from 182g/km.
The new Range Rover Velar pricing starts from R1,290,100 for the Velar D200 S with the special Velar P340 Landmark Edition capping out at R1,576,800.
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