Audi and Porsche have reasons to be worried and it has to do with the latest move by Range Rover which on Wednesday announced an addition to the Land Rover’s premium SUV brand – the Velar off-roader.
Image released by Range Rover revealed the Velar has having a panoramic glass roof with a large infotainment system peeking through. The rear end of the SUV features an integrated spoiler, wraparound taillights, and a host of other styling cues pulled from various Range Rover models.
Range Rover revealed the Velar will be positioned between the compact Evoque and the midsize Sport. This suggests that Velar allows Range Rover to close the $24,000 price gap between the $42,000 Evoque and the $66,000 Sport, putting the brand in a better position to hold onto customers looking for a $50,000 to $60,000 option.
Velar also gives Range Rover a true head-to-head competitor for Audi’s second-generation Q5 and Porsche’s hot-selling Macan — not to mention the stunning F-PACE from sister brand Jaguar. The Velar takes its name from Range Rover’s original development prototypes from the 1960s and will be officially unveiled on March 1, ahead of the 2017 Geneva motor show.
