- Next Velar adopts a lower, sedan-like silhouette.
- It will be offered exclusively as an electric model.
- Production is scheduled to begin in early 2027.
The current Range Rover Velar is arguably Land Rover’s sleekest model. Park it next to the next-generation version, though, and it may start to look a touch bulbous and soft-edged. These latest spy shots suggest the upcoming Velar will lean far closer to a high-riding sedan than to a traditional SUV.
While JLR engineers have tried their hardest to hide the design of the new model, they haven’t done a particularly good job. Sure, the prototype is wrapped head to toe in black and white swirls, yet you can still make out the low-slung proportions and that dramatically reworked rear end without squinting too hard.
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The new Velar reads like a cross between a sedan and an SUV, with proportions that bring to mind the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and more recently, the Volvo ES90. Land Rover has not said why it is taking such a dramatic turn, but the move likely helps create clearer separation from the larger Range Rover Sport and the smaller Range Rover Evoque.
It is also widely viewed as JLR’s response to the Porsche Macan Electric, nudging the Velar toward a more road-focused role within the lineup.
Baldauf
Beyond the overall new shape of the Velar, we can see that the front fascia will remain quite familiar, with sleek, angled headlights and a large front grille. Pop-out door handles are also visible, as are roof rails on this prototype. Like other Land Rover models, there are two big shark-fins on the roof, as well as a camera positioned between them.
There is also an odd hump interrupting the steeply raked rear window. It looks temporary, and it would be a surprise if that detail survives the trip to production.
What About Power?
The new Velar won’t just be intriguing because of its exterior design, but also because it will be sold exclusively as an EV for the first time. It will be underpinned by the new Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA), which will debut in the next-generation Velar, and is also set to be used by the ‘baby’ Land Rover Defender.
As the Velar uses a new platform, little is known about its powertrain. In theory, it could have the same 117 kWh battery pack as the larger Range Rover Electric, although it may be a little too large and too heavy for a smaller model like this.
Our spy photographers still have not managed to get a proper look inside, but considering how dramatically the exterior has evolved, we wouldn’t be shocked if similarly bold changes were made to the cabin.
The new Range Rover Velar EV is tipped to be unveiled in the coming months. Production is scheduled to begin in 2027 at JLR’s Halewood plant, where it will line up alongside the upcoming Defender Sport and possibly the next-generation Range Rover Evoque.
