All-New Range Rover Velar EV Looks Unlike Any Range Rover Before It

Roughly a week ago, JLR confirmed that the long-awaited electric Range Rover SUV will arrive this year, and it will be joined by an all-electric Velar replacement. Autoblog's spies have now captured a prototype of this new Velar undergoing cold-weather testing in northern Europe, and unlike the early prototype spotted on the Nürburgring last year, this development mule has ditched attempts to hide an aggressively sloping roofline. The result is something decidedly sporty, and as much as the term "coupe SUV" grates us, this new Velar will be worthy of the description, even though it has more than two doors. Nothing else on the market takes the fastback SUV idea so seriously, but there are still questions to which we don't have the answer.

2027 Range Rover Velar EV May Not Have a Rear Window

One of the most striking elements of this swoopy new luxury crossover is the rear end, which is somewhat reminiscent of the Porsche Cayenne Coupe. Unlike the German SUV, however, JLR may opt not to fit a rear window. Since this is still just a prototype, the camouflage on the rear end may be hiding glass, but atop the roof, a conspicuous element between two fins seems to house a large rearview camera. Whether or not one can see out the back in the traditional sense, that camera will be necessary. The base of the tailgate includes a large spoiler with an integrated brake light, and this appears to take up at least a third of the upper tailgate, so seeing what's behind the vehicle without digital assistance will be tricky.

This isn't the first time we've been led to believe that JLR is disinterested in a rear windshield, as the mules of the polarizing Jaguar Type 00 concept have also been spotted without a rear window (a concept that has already made its way to production on the Polestar 4).

The aggressive roofline will no doubt restrict rear headroom and minimize cargo space. In profile, we also can't help but notice that the front doors look relatively narrow, hampering ingress and egress. Clearly, this is a vehicle more focused on style than practicality. That said, the front end shows a semi-circular shutline that spans from A-pillar to A-pillar, potentially indicating a capacious frunk. Below this, narrow LED headlights will notch the front fascia's grille area, though as an EV, the only opening required for cooling is the lower intake. Pumped-up arches, flush door handles, and a relatively low ride height (compared to a typical Range Rover) will help set the Velar EV further apart, while the dual taillight setup maintains a little tradition.

2027 Velar EV Will Be the First of Its Kind

The 2027 Velar will be the first JLR product on the British automaker's new Electric Modular Architecture (EMA), an 800-volt platform expected to deliver well over 300 miles of range per charge. The EMA platform will also underpin the next Evoque crossover EV, but it can also support a plug-in hybrid setup, which the new Velar is expected to offer. Our spies report that this Velar prototype has ports on both sides, but since this one is all-electric, the second port is intended to make charging more convenient, whichever way the vehicle is parked. We'll know more before the year is out, with a reveal due in the summer, and since the camouflage is starting to come off, more updates will be available before long.

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