Going up the trend for everything defined as Luxury, the present quest would be to talk value directly to the senses. Even if you don’t know how to read the signs, you have to feel the privileged position of your investment.
I open a heavy door from the handle that just erected from the grey metallic body. The exterior of the new Range Rover Velar is enigmatic and minimalistic. In the modern era of the British brand, simplicity is indeed the ultimate sophistication. The image projected to the exterior is as simple as possible. The LED drawing of the headlamps caught my eyes but everything else is only about angles and proportions.
The mood is somehow typical to our days’ migration towards clear lines and subliminal messages. But, in the same time, it looks like a lot of courage for Range Rover as a symbol of British conservative spirit. This comes as a reason more to think Velar should be the flagship for the Range Rover of the modern times. And this doesn’t have to do with the actual size, positioned below the Range Rover Sport and above the once revolutionary Evoque. But it is about the statement of concentrated emotions.
The SF scenario continues inside the white and immaculate interior. I touch a steering wheel that instantly lets me know it is superbly finished and not by looking at it. On the contrary, I feel it is a special work only by touching it. The fingers grasp on different textures divided by a chrome insert. When focusing on what is now the multifunctional steering wheel for Range Rover, I discover piano black digital pads on which commands change depending on the situation. When talking on the phone, for example, the icons for receiving or ending a call are highlighted in green and red.
The high-tech moment is increasing towards the center console. I see my reflection among the superbly drawn graphics of the menus. It is a scene to impress and it transports me directly to the future of premium automotive. The need for minimalism is more present then in many other cars who shout their future orientation. The Velar is effortlessly quiet and simple. All you think of, from the air-conditioning settings to the already famous all wheel drive modes go inside a black surface with two simple rotary commands. Everything is digitally organized and the function of slides and icons changes in time with each section of the menu. Sounds complicated but it’s not. Actually, it’s one of the few places where I felt like cruising on my smart phone.
Driving impression come second as multimedia interaction conquered my imagination. I don’t think sport sensations are the satisfaction to crave for in such a precious movie. For sure, Range Rover still weights as the guarantee for a perfect on-road character and for the ultimate off-road dominance. Even when strolling downtown, the V6 diesel powered Velar moves strong and heavy as a constructed suit made on Savile Row or as a Cartier pen you keep for signing the best contracts. But I would say the owner of Velar thinks twice before pushing the acceleration too hard or before getting off the highway. The perceived value felt in all details is automatically declined in the idea that you don’t show more than it is already so obvious. Before Velar I thought I have quite an imagination. Now, I sit on the white perforated leather seat and I feel a bit old fashioned.
V6 diesel under the bonnet, 300 ps, 0-100 km/h in 6,4 s, top speed 241 km/h.