Auto & Boats
Range Rover Unveils Its Impeccably Styled 2024 Evoque and Velar
Range Rover Evoque (Courtesy of Range Rover) Considered the capital of luxury and fashion, Paris was a perfect setting for the iconic British brand to unveil its new-look 2024 Evoque and Velar alongside the latest edition of invitation-only traveling experience, Range Rover House. The Katara Presidential Suite at landmark hotel Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris became a temporary haute auto atelier showcasing new features from audio experiences to color palettes while a bells and whistles Range Rover SV commanded attention from the ground floor art gallery.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) recently reorganized to shift focus onto its four distinct sub-brands — Range Rover, Discovery, Defender, Jaguar — and while short of a full revamp, Range Rover’s smallest SUVs got new tech and infotainment systems, plus subtle but still head-turning exterior updates for the model year. Both stand as benchmarks of contemporary automotive design, and evolution of the Evoque and Velar — whose lust-have styling and off-road prowess make them equally at home in the city as well as the countryside — also embody pioneering technology and an unparalleled driving experience.
The Evoque, known for its compact-yet-striking appearance, has undergone subtle modifications. Its sleek lines and distinctive silhouette remain but with added touches — an elegant three-dimensional grille, super-slim adaptive Pixel 1 LED headlights and a refined rear profile. New paint colors include Tribeca Blue, Arroios Grey and Corinthian Bronze. Conversely, the Velar continues to captivate with its avant-garde design language, featuring a sophisticated floating roof and streamlined contours. Metallic Varesine Blue and Metallic Zadar Grey are new exterior color choices; interior leather comes in new hues (Cloud, Deep Garnet, Raven Blue), while a Kvadrat wool-blend is a “non-leather” alternative upholstery option. Modernist and pared back to the max, both cabins feature a dashboard punctuated only by a floating Pivi Pro powered 11.4-inch glass touchscreen (a smartphone style interface where around 80 percent of functions can be accessed within two presses or one voice command) and gear shift on the center console with space for a cubby, standard wireless phone charge and two cupholders.
Navigating the narrow streets of Paris and notorious Périphérique ring road can test the most seasoned of drivers, but it instead provided an opportunity to experience behind-the-wheel wellness features that amplified serenity — a noise-cancellation program which actively “listens” for and neutralizes road sounds, and Cabin Air Purification Plus (available for the first time on the Evoque) whose advanced carbon dioxide filtration system reduces particulates and improves air quality. Underneath the hood, Range Rover enthusiasts will find an array of powerful-yet-efficient engines. The Evoque lineup counts the S and Dynamic SE with the P250 powertrain, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 246 horsepower with a top speed of 143 mph.
Known for its performance prowess, the Velar offers even more exhilarating powertrains including the P400 Dynamic SE model, a robust 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six with MHEV hybrid technology that delivers 395 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. Both vehicles feature Land Rover’s innovative Terrain Response system with an expanded suite of settings can conquer diverse landscapes with ease — and look glorious doing it.
