Range Rover Velar gets electrified for 2023

LAND ROVER has revealed the 2023 Range Rover Velar with two new additions to the range, one of which is a plug-in hybrid set to reach Australia by the end of the year.

The new Velar line-up includes two new models, the Edition D300 and plug-in hybrid petrol option, as it does away with the D200 four-cylinder diesel but retains four-cylinder petrol options.

Jaguar Land Rover says the new Velar offers “a perfect balance of sophisticated design and intelligent technology”, although it’s the addition of a hybrid option we are most excited about.

The dedicated hybrid Range Rover Velar P400e offers an all-electric range of up to 59km, while boasting fuel economy as low as 2.7 litres per 100km, courtesy of a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic motor combination.

Combined power for the P400e stands at 297kW/640Nm, with 221kW coming from the petrol engine and 105kW electric motor, catapulting the hybrid to 100km/h in a claimed 5.4 seconds.

A 17.1kWh lithium-ion battery provides juice for the electric motor and can be charged to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes using a DC Rapid charge point (50kW), or 1 hour 40 minutes using a standard 7kW charger.

The special edition D300 debuts the new D300 mild-hybrid inline-six diesel engine and scores 20-inch alloy wheels, gloss black exterior styling, and panoramic sunroof.

The straight-six petrol and diesel engine options all feature 48-volt mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) systems, to reduce fuel economy and add ‘heightened refinement’.

Jaguar Land Rover’s MHEV provides a boost while accelerating and the system uses a belt integrated starter generator to harvest energy during deceleration, which is then stored in a 48-volt lithium-ion battery 

The in-house developed P400 straight-six petrol engine uses an electric supercharger, twin-scroll turbocharger and continuous variable valve lift, with an output of 294kW/550Nm, while the diesel D300 straight-six has a simpler sequential turbo setup making 221kW/650Nm.

This performance equates to 0-100km/h times for the six-cylinder options of 5.5 seconds for petrol and 6.5 seconds for diesel variants, making the dedicated P400e hybrid the quickest of the bunch.

Lower spec R-Dynamic S and R-Dynamic SE models are equipped with the P250 four-cylinder turbocharged engine producing a still healthy 184kW/365Nm output.

All models receive all-wheel-drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission, to put power down.

The interior and onboard equipment has been overhauled for the new line-up, too, featuring Land Rover’s Pivi Pro infotainment system at its core.

Spotify is now integrated as a media source within the infotainment system, with data connection available, while up to two phones can be connected to the system at once.

The Pivi Pro infotainment pack, when equipped with the Online Pack, features Amazon’s Alexa while wireless Apple CarPlay and Amazon Auto come standard.

A combination of active road noise cancellation and cabin air purification system, keeps occupants comfortable and breathing easy.

The noise cancellation works like the noise-cancelling headphones we are used to wearing on planes, drowning out unwanted road noise by monitoring vibrations from the road surface and calculating the opposite phase sound wave needed.

Land Rover says the noise cancelling function helps to reduce driver fatigue, often experienced after extended exposure to low-frequency noise during longer drives.

The air purification system can be configured to refresh cabin air at set intervals, either using the Land Rover Remote App, or the infotainment system.

Land Rover’s advanced driver assistance system is included across the range, with adaptive cruise, steering assist, and the proven suite of existing driver aids.

A five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty will be offered, along with a five-year roadside assistance subscription.

2023 Land Rover Range Rover Velar pricing*:

R-Dynamic S    P250 (a)        $96,600

R-Dynamic SE P250 (a)        $98,900

Edition D300 (a)            $122,900

P400 (a)                $125,200

R-Dynamic HSE P400 (a)        $136,700

P400e (a)                $138,800

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.