Range Rover Velar
Unveiled at London’s Design Museum on March 1, 2017, the Range Rover Velar became the fourth member of the Range Rover family. Land Rover positioned it between the Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport, combining a more minimalist design with the brand’s luxury-SUV identity. Its aluminum-intensive body, flush deployable door handles, exceptionally slim LED headlights, and dual-screen Touch Pro Duo cabin technology defined the launch model. The Velar nevertheless retained core Land Rover features, including all-wheel drive and Terrain Response technologies. In the supplied ScanRacer catalog, the 2017 model year is represented by one entry called Base. That catalog entry should not be read as a complete list of every trim offered in every market.
Variants by year
2017
Model summary
Data from the ScanRacer library, organized to compare versions quickly.
Model introduction
Unveiled at London’s Design Museum on March 1, 2017, the Range Rover Velar became the fourth member of the Range Rover family. Land Rover positioned it between the Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport, combining a more minimalist design with the brand’s luxury-SUV identity. Its aluminum-intensive body, flush deployable door handles, exceptionally slim LED headlights, and dual-screen Touch Pro Duo cabin technology defined the launch model. The Velar nevertheless retained core Land Rover features, including all-wheel drive and Terrain Response technologies. In the supplied ScanRacer catalog, the 2017 model year is represented by one entry called Base. That catalog entry should not be read as a complete list of every trim offered in every market.
History
The Velar name has a distinctive place in Land Rover history. The first prototypes of the original Range Rover, developed in the late 1960s before the production model was introduced, already carried the Velar name. Land Rover revived it in 2017 for an SUV positioned between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport. The vehicle was officially presented in London on March 1, 2017, followed by market-specific launches. The company described the Velar as a clean-sheet vehicle built around its lightweight aluminum-intensive architecture and intended to move Range Rover design in a new direction. The launch emphasized a restrained silhouette, a continuous waistline, and taut body surfaces rather than excessive ornamentation. Inside, the Velar introduced Touch Pro Duo, a system using two 10-inch high-definition displays. Depending on specification and market, the initial range combined petrol or diesel engines with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The launch lineup included several equipment levels, along with a First Edition limited to one model year in the United States. The supplied ScanRacer context, however, records only one 2017 entry called Base.
Generations
The Range Rover Velar introduced in 2017 represents the model’s first generation. It was not a renamed continuation of an earlier Velar series; Land Rover created the range to expand the Range Rover family. In the positioning announced at launch, the Evoque sat below it, the Velar occupied the middle ground, and the Range Rover Sport remained higher in the family hierarchy. This first generation is defined by its aluminum-intensive architecture, five-door body, and deliberately minimalist design approach. Key visual features include flush deployable door handles, a sloping grille, exceptionally slim headlamps, and horizontally oriented rear lights. The cabin is distinguished by the dual-screen Touch Pro Duo system and a visually uncluttered dashboard. Mechanical specifications varied by market and equipment level; Land Rover listed Ingenium four-cylinder engines and a supercharged petrol V6 among the launch powertrains. For the 2017 year recorded here, ScanRacer provides a single version entry, with no documented split between separate generations.
Key differences
The Velar’s main difference from the other 2017 Range Rover models lies in its positioning and design language. Compared with the Evoque, it is larger and more clearly aimed at the luxury family-SUV market, while using a cleaner, more horizontal presentation. Compared with the Range Rover Sport, it adopts a smoother silhouette and places greater emphasis on design and cabin technology. Trim names and powertrain combinations were not identical across markets. The North American launch material referred to Standard, S, SE, HSE, and R-Dynamic versions, as well as a First Edition, while other regions could use different names or combinations. Vehicle-to-vehicle differences may therefore include the engine, air suspension, driver-assistance equipment, wheels, interior materials, and infotainment specification. The ScanRacer “Base” entry should be treated as a library classification rather than as a universal equivalent of one global showroom trim.
Photo recognition
To identify a first-generation Range Rover Velar, begin with its proportions and side surfaces. It is a relatively low-slung five-door SUV with a gently tapering roofline and a continuous waistline. The flush deployable door handles, which sit almost level with the body when closed, are one of its clearest visual clues. At the front, the LED headlights are notably slim and the grille is more steeply angled than on several earlier Range Rover models. Slim horizontal rear lights complete the design signature. Inside, the Touch Pro Duo system is identified by its two stacked 10-inch touchscreen displays. Caution is still necessary: wheels, R-Dynamic bumpers, lighting equipment, interior trim, and some technology features varied by specification and market. An exterior photograph can therefore identify the Velar family with reasonable confidence but may not prove the exact trim. To recognize a First Edition, look for its distinctive equipment package, 22-inch wheels, and the specific color combinations listed by Land Rover.
Important versions
The launch range included several trim levels, including Standard, S, SE, HSE, and R-Dynamic in the North American market. The First Edition is the most distinctive launch variant: offered for one model year in the United States, it was limited to approximately 500 vehicles and used only the 380-hp supercharged petrol V6. It added features such as extended leather upholstery, a 1,600-watt Meridian audio system, and specific 22-inch wheels. These names should not automatically be applied to every market. In the supplied ScanRacer context, the only version recorded for 2017 is Base.
References
- Land Rover Introduces Fourth Member of Range Rover Family, the Range Rover VelarLand Rover Media Newsroom
- Land Rover Presents the New Range Rover VelarLand Rover Media Newsroom
- New Range Rover Velar 2017 ReviewAuto Express
- https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/car-reviews/land-rover/range-rover/range-rover-velar/rac.co.uk
Frequently asked questions
- What years was the Land Rover Range Rover Velar produced?
- ScanRacer's referenced versions cover 2017.
- How many Land Rover Range Rover Velar examples are documented on ScanRacer?
- 3 published scans from 3 members, with the latest photo added in August 2026.