Range Rover Upgrades Velar with PHEV version
The Range Rover Velar has a plug-in hybrid engine. Photos: Range Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is continuing its upgrades and this week it is the Velar getting attention while two weeks ago it was the Defender already getting upgrades a year after release.
Increasingly, JLR models are getting more complicated in the number of configurations, so get ready to concentrate!
At the top, JLR has added the plug-in hybrid engine, identical to the one just added to the Defender P400e, which consists of a turbocharged four cylinder 2-litre petrol engine with an electric engine and a 17.1kWh battery. This totals 297kW/640Nm, allowing it to achieve the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.4 seconds. It will have a pure electric range of 50km and fuel economy of around 130mpg.
The Velar's battery can reclaim 80 per cent of its charge in 30 minutes when plugged into a 50kW DC fast-charger, whereas a 7kW wall charger will take around one hour and 40 minutes.
Also added are two 48 volt mild hybrid technology 3-litre straight six engines. The first is the well regarded 3-litre petrol, already featured in a number of other JLR models, putting out 294kW and 550nM, and this can do 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds. The second is the new 3-litre diesel, just introduced in the Defender, putting out 221kW.
The Range Rover Velar has had its infotainment system updated.
For the fours, there will be a 2-litre four cylinder diesel, also with the 48 volt mild hybrid, putting out 150kW / 430Nm, and a 2-litre four cylinder turbocharged petrol putting out 184kW and 365Nm.
Other additions are relatively superficial, including a new steering wheel, new alloy wheels (up to 21 inches) and new paints (Hakuba Silver and Portofino Blue). However most notable is the new Pivi and Pivi Pro infotainment systems, depending on the model, with far better touch response than the outdated previous Touch Pro system. Land Rover also now offers over the air updates. Oh, and those of you who love the rotary gear selector, its now gone and replaced with a more conventional drive selector.
A special edition, based on the R-Dynamic SE will include a panoramic sunroof, 20 inch alloy wheels and Lantau Bronze paint.
Lovers of a potential new 5-litre supercharged Velar P550 SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition will need to await further clarification!