Land Rover has updated the medium-sized Range Rover Velar (which sits roughly between the small Evoque and the bulky Range Rover Sport in the line up) with revised styling, a new infotainment system and, most importantly, an upgraded plug-in hybrid model.
Bigger battery
That PHEV Velar now gets a bigger battery - up to 19kWh from 13kWh - which gives it more electric-only range - now 65km rather than 53km. The Velar also gets a charging upgrade, allowing it to use rapid-charging DC power at up to 50kW to top up the battery. Land Rover claims that the real-world range should be at least 51km. The power output of the PHEV model remains the same, at 400hp, hence the P400e badge. Official CO2 emissions are 38g/km, and it'll sprint to 100km/h in just 5.4 seconds.
James Sanderson, Lifecycle Chief Engineer, Range Rover Velar, said: "The Range Rover Velar combines confidence-inspiring driving dynamics with a range of smooth and efficient engine options. By increasing the size of the battery by 12 per cent, we've been able to extend the EV driving range of the P400e plug-in electric hybrid to 64km (40 miles). With the added benefit of rapid DC charging capability, clients will be able to complete daily journeys using EV power more easily than ever."
Given that more than 90 per cent of Land Rover Ireland's sales are now PHEV models, it seems likely that the Velar's other engine options - a basic 250hp turbo petrol, a mild-hybrid four-cylinder 200hp diesel, and a pair of straight-six turbo mild-hybrids, one petrol and one diesel, will get much of a look-in here.
New grille and lights
On the outside, the Velar has been given a very light-touch facelift, which is hardly surprising as it was a pretty gorgeous car already. There are new LED lights front and rear, a new grille, and some lightly reshaped bumpers.
Gerry McGovern, Jaguar Land Rover's 'Chief Creative Officer' and head of design, said: "New Range Rover Velar is a flawless example of our modernist design philosophy - clean, reductive and compellingly desirable. Defined by perfectly optimised proportions, Range Rover Velar embodies effortless sophistication with a bold elegance and dramatic presence that is truly unique."
Inside, the updated Velar gets a new 'floating' 11.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system running the latest Pivi Pro software from the bigger Range Rover models. The seats have been redesigned, and as well as conventional leather, the Velar can be had with woollen-blend seats using material from Danish textile experts Kvadrat. You can choose from new interior colours (Cloud, Caraway, Raven Blue and Deep Garnet), and there are new paint options, too: Metallic Varesine Blue and Premium Metallic Zadar Grey.
Active noise cancelling
The updated infotainment setup brings with it more options, including a 'pre-drive' panel on the screen that gives you fast access to commonly used features, such as window demisters and the optional heated seats.
Land Rover reckons that the Pivi Pro's menu layout means that "80 per cent of tasks are able to be performed within two taps of the home screen", and you can now add on an active noise cancelling system in the cabin (part of the Meridian stereo upgrade) which cuts interior noise by up to 4dB. There's also LED mood lighting with selectable colours and a cabin air purification system that keeps nasty PM2.5 particles at bay.