The all new Range Rover Velar to arrive in Singapore end of 2017

When the Range Rover Evoque was launched, a huge space between the baby Rangie and the Range Rover Sport was inevitably created. Buyers who were on the lookout for a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) that was bigger than the Evoque were eventually forced to shop elsewhere because the jump to the Range Rover Sport was just too much for them to manage, both regarding price and size.

But things are about to change.

Going against the likes of the BMW X4, the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and the Porsche Macan S, the Range Rover Velar is a mid-sized SUV that slots nicely between the Range Rover Evoque and the Sport, which customers will be hard pressed to walk away from, thanks to its attractive and sleek design.

The Velar's outline, while reminiscent of the Sport, has a styling that is more comparable to the sportier and trendsetting Evoque. From distinctive features such as retracting door handles and a high-tech cabin to elegant touches thanks to a pair of slim head lights, an overall clean sheet metal and a sloping roofline, the Velar has certainly nailed it from a design perspective.

"Design is the gateway to customer desirability and a successful design is one that sells," mentioned Gerry McGovern, Chief Design Officer, Jaguar Land Rover.

The Velar's modern interior design sports a two 10-inch high-definition touchscreens stacked on top of each other. Dubbed the Touch Pro Duo, the minimalist feature can be expected across its future range as the next generation of models is introduced.

Space-wise, occupants will have very little to complain about. Leather-swathed seats are plush and comfortable as you'd come to expect from Range Rover and head, leg and shoulder space are sufficient for three Asian adults at the back despite its floating roofline.

More relevantly, the five-seater mid-sized SUV offers some 673-litre boot space, which will be what a family of five will reasonably need on a weekly or even monthly basis. Knock those rear benches down, and space will increase a couple of notches to 1,731 litres.

As of press time, the Range Rover Velar, which is also the fourth model in Rangie's lineup, has six engine variants on offer. There are three petrol and three diesel units, each paired with a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox that sends power to all four wheels.

The top-of-the-line variant is the 3.0-litre Supercharged V6 engine. The 'First Edition', as it's called, boasts an output of 380bhp and 450Nm of torque, allowing the two-tonne SUV to finish the century sprint of just 5.7 seconds before reaching a top speed of 250km/h.

Unfortunately, the capable diesel variants of the Velar will not be coming to our shores due to the restructure of diesel taxes. The local Government has introduced a volume-based duty at $0.10 per litre on automotive diesel earlier this year. This is to incentivise users to reduce diesel consumption.

The Range Rover Velar First Edition, which will cost some $428,999 (as of press time), is expected to reach Singapore in the fourth quarter of this year.