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Onelife 24

  • Text
  • Rover
  • Vehicles
  • Luxury
  • Velar
  • Jaguar
  • Features
  • Oslo
  • Experiences
  • Norway
  • Ainslie
2019MY Range Rover and Range Rover Sport Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles | Why Oslo shines as a beacon of electric mobility | Uncovering Mia Suki’s unbridled passion | How Project Hero is optimizing crisis response for the Austrian Red Cross | A stunning Norwegian drive in the Range Rover Velar

RANGE ROVER VELAR The

RANGE ROVER VELAR The final destination for the day’s drive is to enjoy some traditional Nordic hospitality at the impressive Storfjord Hotel. Right: the route took in the stunning hairpins of the Trollstigen “Bak skyene er himmelen alltid blå,” I’m told with a smile as I wait in Molde airport. Informing the speaker that my Norwegian is a little rusty, he ably informs me “behind the clouds the sky is always blue.” At this exact moment in time it’s extremely apt as the heavens are open and the tiny airport is getting a thorough drenching. After a short wait, the car, a Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE specification, is brought into sight. This particular gray day in Molde is more akin to a scene from a Scandi noir drama, yet the car shines in the flat Norwegian light. I keep spotting new lines, new ways size is hidden or accentuated and, above all, the removal of unnecessary adornments. The day is scheduled to cover 176 miles, and will take in some of the most spectacular sights and roads Norway has to offer. Driving around the seemingly endless sweeping Nordic B roads, my central navigation screen informs me that the first waypoint is off-road at Jordalsgrenda, 40 miles away. The two 10" touchscreens which define the new and innovative Touch Pro Duo system are not only highly practical, they’re also elegant and intuitive. The lower screen is a joy to read and lets you configure the car for off-road programs, as well as music, phone and climate control. The upper screen displays navigation and a myriad of other options * . As I make good progress to the waypoint, the high-resolution optional Head-up Display ** informs me of the speed limit, as 30 or 50 mph *** are generally the limits on most roads, regardless of straightness or lack of people. As I start to settle into the first hour road section of the drive, it becomes more and more apparent that this car is supremely comfortable with an ability to devour miles with effortless ease. Criss-crossing bridges and skirting fjords, I really get a sense of the way of things here in Norway. They use a term, ‘hyggelig.’ It doesn’t have a direct translation in English, but it roughly means coziness, YOU CAN P U L L T H E C A R U P T H E relaxation and the feeling of contentment. Norway is a wonderfully egalitarian country where people value time, nature and conviviality, so why drive quickly when I can experience some prime ‘hyggelig’ on the journey? Arriving at the first off-road section, the helpful Land Rover Experience team gives me a session on how to set the car up for this part. This is a mere matter of selecting ‘Mud and Ruts’ on the lower touchscreen, raising the air suspension and engaging optional All Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) ** . Akin to off-road cruise control, ATPC works in both forward and reverse gears and is operational from 1.2 mph (1.8 km/h) to 18 mph (30 km/h). It’s particu larly beneficial in off-road environments where a constant crawl speed is desirable. Basically, you just steer ** . With ATPC engaged, you can pull the car up the off-road area with ease and composure. Loose stones, steep inclines and deep ruts are all traversed with minimal drama. This is no faux off-roader – it still holds its own with its bigger siblings and I’m not able to find an area of the off-road section that it can’t traverse. After this section, it is another short drive south to the lunch stop at Meringdal. The house chosen for lunch is called Utsyn, which means ‘view in front of you.’ I speak to owner Frode Meringdal, who tells me: “I decided to restore the farm five years ago. Progress here is made by challenging people. This is design with a purpose.” O F F - R O A D A R E A W I T H E A S E A N D COMPOSURE * 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. ** These systems are not a substitute for driving safely with due care and attention and will not function under all circumstances, speeds, weather and road conditions, etc. Driver should not assume that these systems will correct errors of judgment in driving. Please consult the owner’s manual or your local authorized Land Rover Retailer for more details. *** Always follow local speed limits. 72

European model shown.

 

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Land Rover Magazine 39

 

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