Range Rover Velar 2017 pricing and spec confirmed

Land Rover’s elegant and techno-rich Range Rover Velar SUV hits Australian showrooms on Friday with a mind-boggling 50 variants priced from $70,662 before on-road costs up to a fully-loaded special-edition launch version priced from $168,250.

The new addition, and fourth model in Land Rover’s Range Rover family, has been categorised as filling the "white space" between the Evoque and the Sport models.

The Velar and Velar R-Dynamic range comprises Standard, S, SE or HSE levels across six different powertrain options – three diesel and three petrol.

The new SUV also introduces Land Rover’s expanded range of Ingenium petrol and diesel four-cylinder engines, with outputs from 132kW to 184kW and from later this year, a more powerful version with 221kW.

D180 versions make use of a 132kW/430Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, while D240 engines add another turbocharger to increase potency to 177kW/500Nm.

The entry-level P250 petrol engine develops 184kW/365Nm from a 2.0-litre turbo unit, with the newly added P300 variant raising the bar to 221kW of power.

Topping the engine range is a 3.0-litre supercharged petrol V6 and 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel, outputting 280kW/450Nm and 221kW/700Nm respectively.

All engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic and all Velars have all-wheel drive with air suspension for the V6-engined versions.

In Velar Standard guise with the P250 engine, pricing kicks off from $70,662, while the base diesel comes in at $71,550.

The R-Dynamic bodystyle adds $6000 to the asking price, while moving up to the S adds $11,000, the SE adds $20,000 and the HSE adds $36,300.

D240 engines start at $80,950, D300 versions at $92,850, P300s come in at $78,750 and P380-equipped models kick-off from $93,462, each featuring the same equipment upgrades, and price changes, to move to the R-Dynamic version and S, SE and HSE spec packs.

Standard equipment includes a gesture controlled, powered tailgate, single-speed transfer box, 18-inch alloy wheels, acoustic laminated windscreen, LED headlights, heated door mirrors, electronically controlled eight-way adjustable front seats, eight-speaker sound system, automatic wipers and headlights, keyless entry, voice controls, tailgate spoiler, flush-fitting door handles and a state-of-the-art 'Touch Pro Duo' multimedia system.

All Velar models come with controlled and a state-of-the-art 'Touch Pro Duo' multimedia system.

S specification levels add 19-inch 5-spoke wheels, premium LED headlights with daytime running lights (DRLs), 10-way seats finished in perforated leather, 11-speaker sound system, and auto-dimming and folding side mirrors with puddle lamps.

Moving up to SE grades add 20-inch, seven-spoke wheels, a 17-speaker sound system, an all-digital interactive driver display, and parking aids front and rear, while flagship HSE versions gain 21-inch wheels, matrix LED headlights, 20-way adjustable seats with heating, cooling and massage functions, chrome cabin highlights, adaptive cruise control and an electronically adjustable steering column.

The most exclusive version, however, will be the First Edition variants, which are only available in the Velar’s first year in production.

Based on the HSE specification level, the First Edition is available exclusively with either the 3.0-litre V6 petrol or diesel engines.

Additional features over the HSE include full extended leather interior trim, perforated 'Windsor' leather seats in 'Nimbus' or 'Ebony', 1600W Meridian Signature sound system, matrix-laser LED headlights and 22-inch split-spoke wheels with diamond-turned finish.

Using a monocoque body made of aluminium and sharing little with its siblings, the Velar is intended to guide the carmaker into the next generation of SUVs.

It is only 47mm shorter than the Range Rover Sport and sits on a 2874mm wheelbase that is 49mm shorter. However, it offers a very roomy cabin with seating for five and a boot area that is 673 litres and, with the rear seats folded, expands to an impressive 1731L.

Land Rover has retained a high off-road competency with the Velar, with all versions having all-wheel drive with 'Intelligent Driveline Dynamics' and active-locking rear differential. Ground clearance ranges from 251mm (with air suspension) to 213mm (coil springs).

The all-terrain technologies include 'Terrain Response 2', 'All Terrain Progress Control', 'Low Traction Launch', 'Hill Descent Control' and 'Gradient Release Control'.

The Velar also has a towing capacity of up to 2500kg and includes a tow-assist function that allows the driver to reverse the vehicle with trailer attached using the Touch Pro Duo rotary controller with no need to counter-steer.

Safety equipment includes the full suite including AEB with pedestrian detection, reverse traffic detection, and driver fatigue monitoring.

With 50 variants to choose from, has Range Rover gone overboard with its Velar specifications? Tell us what you think in the comments below.