The new Range Rover Velar is gunning for Audi and Porsche
(Range Rover Velar.Jaguar Land Rover)
Audi and Porsche, beware — Range Rover is coming for you.
On Wednesday, Land Rover's premium SUV brand released a teaser photo of its upcoming Velar off-roader.
The image of the Velar shows a panoramic glass roof with a large infotainment system peeking through.
In addition, the rear end of the SUV features an integrated spoiler, wraparound taillights, and a host of other styling cues pulled from various Range Rover models.
According to the folks at Range Rover, the Velar will be positioned between the compact Evoque and the midsize Sport.
As a result, the Velar allows Range Rover to close the $24,000 price gap between the $42,000 Evoque and the $66,000 Sport, putting the brand in a better position to hold onto customers looking for a $50,000 to $60,000 option.
In addition, the Velar gives Range Rover a true head-to-head competitor for Audi's second-generation Q5 and Porsche's hot-selling Macan — not to mention the stunning F-PACE from sister brand Jaguar.
(Jaguar F-PACE.Hollis Johnson)
The Velar, which takes its name from Range Rover's original development prototypes from the 1960s, will be officially unveiled on March 1, ahead of the 2017 Geneva motor show.
Jaguar Land Rover is coming off a historic year, with sales up 24%. Jaguar and Land Rover combined to sell more than 105,000 vehicles in the US — a record for the two brands. Jaguar, in particular, had a stunning year; the arrival of the brand's first SUV, the F-PACE, pushed Jaguar's US sales up a whopping 116%.
NOW WATCH: Learn how to drive a stick shift in the $80,000 Jaguar F-Type
More From Business Insider
