NEW DELHI
British luxury car maker Jaguar Land Rover has been on a launching spree in the country over the last few months. After getting the all-electric I-Pace in the market in March, the month of June has seen the arrival of two new SUVs from the brand — the updated Jaguar F-pace and the new Range Rover Velar. While the former is priced at Rs 69.99 lakh (ex-showroom, India) the new Velar is priced starting at Rs 79.87 lakh. The diesel variant of the SUV is priced at Rs 80.71 lakh.
JAGUAR F-PACE
The new exterior design on the F-PACE includes a new sculpted bonnet with a wider power bulge. The enlarged grille features Jaguar’s heritage logo-inspired ‘diamond’ detailing, while the side fender vents feature the iconic Leaper emblem. A new front bumper with redesigned air intakes and dark mesh details can also been seen on the SUV. The super slim all-LED quad headlights with ‘Double J’ Daytime Running Light (DRL) signatures are new too and according to Jaguar they deliver increased resolution and brightness. At the rear, new slimline lights feature Jaguar’s double chicane graphic, first previewed on the all-electric I-Pace. The new bumper design and sculpted new tailgate also help the new F-Pace look different from its predecessor.
The F-Pace has an all-new interior which offers enhanced connectivity. 2 new colorways have been introduced in Mars Red and Siena Tan while the new cockpit design is bolder with greater focus on the driver. A new centre console sweeps up to the instrument panel and incorporates wireless device charging feature. The new gear selector features an upper section finished with ‘cricket-ball’ stitching; the lower part being made of precision-engineered metal for enhanced tactility. Other key features include reclining seats on the second row, four zone climate control, interactive driver display and a panoramic roof.
The new Jaguar F-Pace gets the brands latest Pivi Pro infotainment technology which can be accessed through the all-new 11.4 curved glass HD touchscreen. Jaguar says its enhanced clarity and simplified menu structure allows users to access or view up to 90 per cent of common tasks from the home-screen in two taps or less. In addition to this, the cabin also gets an air purifier which captures ultra-fine particles including PM2.5 particulates to improve occupant health. The new F-Pace also has gets features like a 3D surround camera, meridian audio system, and a smartphone pack.
The SUV is available for the first time in the R-Dynamic S trim with Ingenium 2.0 litre petrol and diesel powertrains. The 2.0 litre petrol engine delivers a power of 246 bhp and 365 Nm of torque while the 2.0 litre diesel delivers a power of 201 bhp and 430 Nm of torque.
RANGE ROVER VELAR
Land Rover says that the Velar offers a great balance of sophisticated design and intelligent technology with good all-wheel drive capability on every terrain. The burnished copper bumper accents, bonnet vents and side vents on the R-dynamic make the car look unique while the bonnet badge, tailgate script and grille are finished in shadow atlas. The door handles on the Velar retract when not in use and that has always been one of the highlights on the car. Their flush design creates clean, pure lines which improve aerodynamic efficiency and reduce wind noise.
The SUV comes with features such as 3D surround camera, electronic air suspension, cabin air ionisation with PM2.5 filter and new Pivi Pro infotainment system. According to the carmaker the new Velar is cleaner, safer, and smarter than before and is one of the most technologically advanced luxury SUVs in the world.
Like the F-Pace the new Velar too is available in the R-Dynamic S trim on Ingenium 2.0 litre petrol and diesel powertrains. The output is also same on both these engines. The 8-speed automatic transmission has been finely tuned by Land Rover engineers to combine smooth shifting with rapid response. The company says closely spaced ratios ensure that gear changes are almost unnoticeable.
Torque-on-demand all wheel drive (AWD) delivers both on road performance and full off-road capability. The all terrain progress control (ATPC) system enables the driver to set and maintain a steady speed in challenging conditions such as mud, wet grass, ice, snow, and dirt roads.The SUV is available in four colours – fuji white, portofino blue, sartorini black and silicon silver.
The writer is Senior Editor at carandbike.com