Range Rover Velar successor to debut by the end of 2026 – report

The replacement for the Range Rover Velar will reportedly debut by the end of the year, as the first new product for the brand since the 2022

According to Autocar, the Velar replacement will debut within the next six months, although it's not certain if the new model will continue the Velar name or use something else.

Regardless of what it will be christened, the new car will be the first vehicle to ride on JLR's new EMA platform, which was originally conceived to be an EV-only architecture.

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With EV take-up not meeting initial expectations, and some regions in the world, notably the US, lagging behind Europe and China in their EV enthusiasm, JLR has confirmed EMA will now "provide flexibility in the future through a full hybrid electric vehicle propulsion offering".

The Velar replacement will initially be available as an EV, and it's not clear when hybrid variants will become available. The British magazine understands EMA's hybrid systems will be unrelated to the company's existing petrol drivetrains.

The spy photos seen here were taken in March during cold weather testing, and include a peek at the interior, which features a two-spoke steering wheel, a digital instrumentation display, and a large free-standing touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard.

They also show the Velar replacement, which is one of the last models to be overseen by former head of design Gerry McGovern, as the most rakish model to wear Range Rover badges thanks to its steeply raked tailgate and short, flat rear deck. 

The new Velar reportedly has a greater emphasis on long-distance refinement rather than utility or off-roading ability. JLR is hoping the new body style will help to cement this point of difference.

The magazine believes the Velar's EMA base has a 800V electrical architecture. This should allow it match up to the DC fast-charging speeds of the BMW iX3, Mercedes-Benz GLC EV, and Volvo EX60, which can hit at least 300kW.

Battery capacity has yet to be confirmed, but despite being significantly shorter (at around 4.8m in length) than the range-topping Range Rover EV, it's possible the Velar replacement will also have a pack around the 110kWh mark.

Should this prove to be true, it would be thanks to the electric-first EMA platform, which is also set to underpin the upcoming Defender Sport model.

MORE: Explore the Range Rover Velar showroom