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Onelife 23

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  • Rover
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Unveiling of the New Range Rover Velar | Step inside some of the planet’s most exclusive homes | Man’s relationship with dogs | An epic drive through the Isle of Skye | The legendary Beechcraft Bonanza takes to the Skies

INTRODUCING THE RANGE

INTRODUCING THE RANGE ROVER VELAR 22

INTRODUCING THE RANGE ROVER VELAR “EVERYTHING WE HAVE DONE SINCE THE EVOQUE HAS DESIGN AT ITS CORE, AND THE VELAR IS NO EXCEPTION. IT’S MODERN, ELEGANT AND COMPELLING. IT’S GLAMOROUS” GERRY MCGOVERN Finely cut: the Velar model’s jewel-like LED lights are the result of new LED technology, giving designers and engineers the freedom to completely reconfigure the look of the lights “With a ‘white space’ vehicle you have more creative freedom, particularly when you’re going into a segment of the market where you currently don’t have a vehicle. It frees you up.” Land Rover’s Chief Design Officer Gerry McGovern and his team have clearly pushed the boundaries with the New Range Rover Velar model. Gerry has been looking at sketches and models of the Velar for four years, as this radical new addition to the Range Rover family has been continuously refined. But he says that it has stayed true to the themes presented in the very first visuals – ‘‘more car-like, lower to the ground, a continued march on modernity, and very characterful.” And Gerry hasn’t forgotten what it’s like to see the Velar for the first time. “It’s a head-turner. It’s a very modern vehicle. You just wouldn’t expect it from us. You’ll think it’s like no Range Rover you’ve seen before, but at the same time you can still instantly tell it’s a Range Rover.” So how should we view the Velar? In size, it bridges the gap between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport. It will appeal to buyers new to the brand and those upsizing from the Range Rover Evoque. “It will still be a hugely capable vehicle on road and off, with its air suspension and lightweight aluminum construction,” says Gerry. “Range Rover vehicles have always been hugely capable.” “But,” he continues, “the Range Rover Evoque resonated with people through its bold new design. That’s something that we as a brand never previously had. We’ve never had a vehicle that’s sold chiefly on its great design. Everything we have done since the Range Rover Evoque has design at its core, and the Velar is no exception. It’s modern, elegant and compelling. It’s glamorous.” Glancing at the Velar for the first time, its design does come across as beautifully balanced, from the powerful forms of its clamshell hood, through its continuous waistline, to the taut tapered lines of the rear. Its generous wheelbase contributes significantly to its elegance while helping to provide a spacious interior. The 22-inch wheels help optimize the vehicle’s stunning silhouette, while enhancing its dramatic presence. It’s clean, reductive, sculptured – and the most aerodynamic Range Rover thus far. New, innovative features on the exterior include super-slim LED headlamps, flush deployable door handles and burnished copper detailing. As is often the case with premium design, its details are subtle, but impactful. “Details are very important,” says Gerry. “However, optimized volumes and proportions are crucial as they are the very foundation of great vehicle design. The Velar has great proportions. It’s planted. It’s purposeful. It has a solid stance combined with a unique balance of formality and sleek muscularity.” Technology, it becomes immediately clear, has played a leading role in the development of the Velar and has been fully engaged in its interior, too: the ‘Land Rover InControl ® ‘Touch Pro Duo’ system is the centerpiece – designenabling technological innovation that has allowed the incorporation of two high-definition 10-inch touchscreens, integrated seamlessly behind hidden-until-lit surfaces. These slim, intuitive displays work in perfect harmony with the cabin architecture, while adding an overall sense of modernity congruent with the vehicle’s exterior design. The upper screen deploys toward the driver and controls the primary functions: navigation, audio and phone. The lower screen replaces all the controls that would usually be clustered around and ahead of the gear lever, controlling the ventilation and driving systems*. Instead, just two rotary controllers * Do not use Land Rover InControl ® features under conditions that will affect your safety or the safety of others. Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle control. 23

 

Land Rover

Land Rover Magazine 39

 

Land Rover Magazine showcases stories from around the world that celebrate inner strength and the drive to go above and beyond

Land Rover stands for not only the most capable premium vehicles, but a state of mind where a sense of curiosity, exploration and wonder informs all of life’s adventures. Encounter this throughout the latest issue of Land Rover Magazine, from meeting a herd of Ice Age survivors on the Dutch coast with the Land Rover Discovery, to the most innovative sustainable architecture on a Californian journey with the Range Rover Evoque

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