The crossover market is alive and well in the country – across price points from budget rides all the way to premium propositions. You can realize the basic virtues that have endeared this segment to many of us, while getting the accoutrements of luxe as you move up in asking price.
Last week, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in the Philippines unveiled the refreshed version of the Range Rover Velar, one of the more premium examples on the market.
As with its siblings in the Range Rover portfolio, the Velar is said to champion a “reductionist design approach,” which is easily gleaned at first blush. Simple, smooth curves on the outside (and the proud Range Rover lettering above the sophisticated-looking grille) make it stand out in simplicity and elegance. These and more, says Land Rover, drive home the modern luxury design approach.
The Velar gets the characteristic floating roof (made by blacking out the pillars) and an unbroken waistline. The clean, smooth finish is underscored by the flush, deployable door handles. New to this current-gen Velar are the lower rear bumper design and dark accents. Meanwhile, pixel LED headlamps not only enhance visibility but imbue a “jewel-like” appearance to the vehicle. At the rear are “super-red LED taillights for better visibility and reduced dazzle.”
In a release, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Chief Creative Officer Prof. Gerry McGovern, OBE said that the Velar “is a flawless example of our modernist design philosophy – clean, reductive, and compellingly desirable. Defined by perfectly optimized proportions, Range Rover Velar embodies effortless sophistication with a bold elegance and dramatic presence that is truly unique.”
Added IC Land Automotive, Inc. Vice President Chris Ward, “The refreshed Range Rover Velar is surely the most desirable mid-sized luxury SUV in the Philippine market. The competition in this segment is very aggressive, and with the Velar’s new design and features, it’s better than ever. We are confident that our clients here will be able to take on all road conditions in exceptional comfort with the Range Rover Velar.”
In a speech at the launch, Ward described the Velar, first launched globally in 2017, as the “avant-garde model in the range,” and this refreshed version marks an “evolution rather than revolution.” There’s also much excitement with the Velar as it is one of the strong performers in the Philippines. As a market, the country ranks second in Asia in terms of Land Rover sales. That’s certainly nothing to sneeze at.
Inside, a new single floating 11.4-inch curved glass touchscreen is cleanly integrated into the center console. “Less is more,” underscored Ward in an interview. “And we cleaned up the inside. There’s one big screen, and everything has moved into that screen. We’ve done away with clutter in the center console.”
It’s about removing distractions, he stated. “Literally, the only thing now is the gear selector. It’s clean and lovely inside.” It’s also about removing cruelty; the Velar is leather-free – employing, instead, Kvadrat wool blends and polyurethane textile. The vehicle also does away with CO2 and other harmful substances from the interiors through the Cabin Air Purification Plus feature, which employs advanced with PM2.5 filtration systems.
Under the hood is Land Rover’s familiar gas-sipping 2.0-liter P250 engine – submitting 250ps and 365Nm from 1,300 to 4,500rpm and mated with an eight-speed automatic.
The Range Rover Velar P250 is priced at P6.69 million, and is available to order now. Production is expected to ensue, said Ward, in October and November, with deliveries to commence by December. For more information, visit https://www.landrover.ph/range-rover/range-rover- velar/overview.
