Hot on the heels of the revamp for the related Jaguar F-Pace SUV, now the Range Rover Velar has undergone its midlife updates - bringing electrification to the table, in the form of both mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid electrified versions.
Plug-in hybrid leads the charge
We'll start with the plug-in hybrid, which is the Range Rover Velar P400e. It combines a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, rated at 300hp, with a 105kW (143hp) electric motor for peak drivetrain outputs of 404hp and 640Nm. That allows 0-100km/h to be checked off in just 5.4 seconds, while a 17.1kWh lithium-ion battery housed under the boot floor can allow for a 53km all-electric range, with fuel consumption of 2.2 litres/100km (130.2mpg) and 49g/km of CO2 emissions. Charging of the P400e's battery to 80 per cent capacity can be achieved in just 30 minutes on a rapid DC connection, or one hour 40 minutes on a 7kW wallbox.
Elsewhere, the full array of straight-six diesel and petrol engines can be had with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, to reduce fuel consumption and emissions accordingly. Choose from D300, P340 and P400 models, the 'D' meaning diesel and the 'P' petrol, and the numbers relating to their horsepower figure. Expect 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds from the P400, for instance, as all Velars feature all-wheel-drive. For those who want a smaller, more frugal engine, the four-cylinder D200 (204hp) turbodiesel is brought in for the updated Velar range, offering 165g/km of CO2 and fuel consumption of as low as 6.3 litres/100km (44.9mpg).
Better infotainment, plusher cabin
On the outside, new colour options for the Velar include Lantau Bronze, Hakuba Silver, Santorini Black or Eiger Grey, while inside the addition of the latest Pivi and Pivi Pro touchscreen infotainment, an Active Road Noise Cancellation system and new cabin air filtration all aim to improve the ambience. There's also the Activity Key, a wearable replacement for the key fob, a new design of steering wheel and a new 'Drive Selector' to replace the old rotary knob for choosing gears.
Nick Rogers, executive director of Product Engineering for Jaguar Land Rover, said: "The Range Rover Velar's name and bloodline dates back to the code name of the original Range Rover prototypes. It has been 50 years since the introduction of the pioneering Range Rover in 1970, and now every family member is electrified with our awesome plug-in hybrid technology. Electrified powertrains and cleaner mild hybrid diesel engines mean the Velar is an even more efficient and sustainable option for our customers. Jaguar Land Rover's new Electrical Vehicle Architecture - EVA 2.0 - supports the new Pivi and Pivi Pro infotainment, as well as Software-Over-The-Air (SOTA), and a whole suite of advanced driver assistance systems, cameras and clean-air technology, making the Range Rover Velar cleaner, safer and smarter than ever before and one of the most technologically advanced luxury SUVs in the world."
Pricing for the Irish market Range Rover Velar range is not yet confirmed.