Range Rover’s first electric prototype has been spotted testing, as the brand prepares to reveal its first EV in the coming months.
It is thought to be a test car of the electric successor to the Velar, which has the same profile as the lower one. An electric version of the flagship Range Rover model, which has yet to be seen but should go on sale first, will closely resemble today’s more upright, taller car.
The roof profile, window line and hugging suspension are big clues that this is our first look at a rival to Range Rover’s Porsche Macan EV, which is due to be one of three electric SUVs built in Halewood, Merseyside, on the platform. brand new EMA. .
Sibling to similar-sized replacements for the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque, the electric Velar is tipped to go into production early this year, as the current model nears the natural end of its life cycle, having been launched in 2017.
Details of the next-generation model remain under wraps, but it’s clear the company remains committed to its more obvious off-road focus than other models in the Land Rover range.
In particular, in these pictures its body is visible long enough behind the rear axle to accommodate the third row of seats. JLR has yet to give any indication that it plans to increase the Velar’s size – but the extra room will no doubt set it further apart from the Discovery Sport, which is seen as key to boosting sales.
Last year, the Velar was the lowest-selling in the Land Rover range with 18,626 sales, second only to the Discovery’s 13,164. In contrast, the Discovery Sport collected over 21,000 sales and the Evoque over 34,000.
The next Velar will also be clearer in its position as a luxury SUV, in line with JLR’s intention to paint each of its core lines – Jaguar, Discovery, Defender and Range Rover – in different brands with their own design languages, values. and target markets.
JLR declined to comment on the images.
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