- The second generation Range Rover Velar is reportedly arriving in the next six months.
- EV and hybrid powertrains will be available in it.
- Styling will be more sedan-like with no rear window.
It’s been almost a decade since Land Rover added a new model to the Range Rover family. That model, the Range Rover Velar, is still in its first generation despite being nearly 10 years old. The second generation is coming in the next six months, and according to autocarThis will be a major departure from the current Velar.
The Range Rover Velar will be the first Land Rover product to feature on the company’s new Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) platform. The MLA was originally planned for electric vehicles only, but has later been confirmed to support hybrid powertrains as well.
Range Rover Velar SV Biography
Photo by: Land Rover
Fresh powertrain, new look
Land Rover previously said its first MLA vehicle would “provide future flexibility through a full hybrid electric vehicle propulsion offering.” In other words, there will be a hybrid and an EV, though it’s unconfirmed whether both will be sold in the United States.
In terms of design, it will be one of the last Land Rover models penned by former Jaguar Land Rover chief creative officer Gerry McGovern. The current Velar hasn’t changed much since its debut in 2017, but this new model looks set to change that by adopting a more car-like appearance.
We expect to see a heavily raked rear end, not unlike what you’d expect from a coupe SUV like the BMW X4. Similar to the Jaguar Type 01, the Velar will not have a rear window, instead relying on a camera to see the driver from behind. The Polestar 4 has a similar rear end design, although that model is now banned from sale in the US.
Not much is known about the MLA platform and its capabilities, except that it is rumored to feature an 800-volt architecture. This means the electric Velar should feature fast charging on par with some of the most advanced EVs currently on sale.
Following the launch of the Velar, the MLA platform should also spawn the long-awaited “baby Defender” model, which will also have hybrid and EV variants.
Motor1’s Opinion: The current Range Rover Velar feels like it’s been forgotten by Land Rover; The design is dated, and the powertrains are nothing special in their class. Converting the Velar to an EV and turning it into a high-riding sedan-like vehicle gives it something to feel different from its Range Rover siblings, which this model desperately needs.
