Land Rover has implemented a unique approach for the Range Rover Velar SUV due to its underwhelming sales figures. Recognizing the limited demand for the car, the company decided to replace it with an electric variant.
Despite being equipped with a powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine capable of generating 296 horsepower, the Range Rover Velar, a British SUV also available in Indonesia, has struggled to attract buyers.
Interestingly, one notable owner of this vehicle in Indonesia is Johnny G Plate, the Minister of Communication and Informatics, who is currently detained by the Attorney General’s Office on charges of corruption. The Attorney General’s Office has seized Johnny G Plate’s Range Rover Velar.
Given the poor sales performance, Land Rover was compelled to brainstorm alternative solutions. Since its launch in 2021, only 29,845 units of the Range Rover Velar have been sold worldwide, according to Autocar.
However, Land Rover did not want to discontinue the model entirely. Instead, they decided to replace the conventional engine of the Range Rover Velar with a battery and electric motor.
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Autocar reported on Wednesday (31/5/2023) that Land Rover plans to replace the old Range Rover Velar’s D7 architecture with a new platform called EMA (Electrified Modular Architecture). This platform, designed specifically for electric vehicles, will be utilized for the conversion of the Range Rover Velar into an electric SUV.
Land Rover is confident that these modifications will enhance the appeal of the Range Rover Velar. The electric variant will feature a battery with a power output of 350 horsepower, significantly surpassing the capabilities of the conventional engine.
This transformation of the Range Rover Velar is regarded as a significant milestone for Land Rover, according to Autocar. The renowned British automaker is currently reorganizing its car lineup into four distinct core families: Jaguar, Defender, Discovery, and Range Rover.
Each family is expected to possess unique characteristics and cater to different consumer preferences. Land Rover aims to avoid any confusion regarding the model names, as previously, Defender, Discovery, and Range Rover were often considered synonymous.