JLR unveils Ratan Tata's passion project Range Rover Velar

London: Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover has unveiled a new model at a grand ceremony here.

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Design Officer, credited the final product to Tata Group chairman emeritus Ratan Tata.

 

"I would like to thank Ratan Tata. Ever since he saw the first sketch of the Velar, he became a passionate advocate of it," McGovern said at the function.

"Design has the power to enrich people's lives... This is a vehicle with emotionally charged DNA and unquestionable pedigree," he added.

Described as one of the "hottest products this year", the Velar is now open to orders from around the world, including India.

In a boost to British manufacturing, the company announced that the Velar will be built exclusively at JLR's flagship Solihull plant in the West Midlands region of England.

"The expansion of our product range and building this British designed and engineered car in the UK is a sign of our confidence in British manufacturing. We are leading the global premium car industry with our commitment to our home market and our heart, soul and headquarters will always be in the UK," said JLR CEO Ralf Speth.

The Range Rover brand has been heralded as Britain's greatest luxury export since the 1970s and includes the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Evoque.

Together they have helped transform the fortunes of the UK's largest vehicle manufacturer, accounting for 85 percent of all premium cars produced in Britain and contributing 10 billion pounds to the UK economy every year, JLR said.

The Range Rover Velar is the third model to be launched at the Solihull manufacturing plant in two years.

Production of all Jaguar Land Rover models at the four UK manufacturing plants directly support more than 40,000 British jobs and a further 250,000 in the supply chain, a JLR statement said.

In the past six years, the company has more than doubled its workforce to support global demand for its products. Last year, Jaguar Land Rover sold 583,313 cars ? more than one every minute, 44 percent of which were Range Rovers, the statement said.

The Range Rover Velar will be sold in more than 100 markets globally and can be ordered from later this year.

The Velar will be on display at the Design Museum in London until March 6 for customers who are eager to see the model before buying it.

The car will also form the centrepiece of a new exhibition documenting 45 years of Range Rover, 'Velar to Velar', which opens at the Solihull manufacturing plant at the end of March. It will be doing the motor show circuit around the world, starting with Geneva this month.