Thank you for flagging this, Rob.
I was lucky enough to be selected for the event and had a very interesting and enjoyable morning at Land Rover Solihull with the SO.
A big thank you to Kris from What Car and the Land Rover Team for hosting the event. It was good to get an opportunity to talk to Kris, Colin, the Range Rover UK Product Manager, and Kim, Land Rover Public Relationships Manager.
Following coffee in the Land Rover Experience Reception Centre we took a passenger ride in a 12 seater Land Rover Defender over to the static Range Rover Story exhibition. As ever the Land Rover Experience staff were entertaining, knowledgeable and informative hosts.
We were given a guided tour of the Range Rover Story exhibition. It was really interesting to see the early sketches. There was an engineering mule which had been refurbished for the exhibition. Also a full size Range Rover prototype clay replica - which had different treatments for lights on the nearside and offside.
Then the big unveil of the Range Rover Velar and a chance to have a look around the car. The car was a First Edition P380 in Flux Silver with a Black Contrast Roof. The satin paint finish looked stunning - as it should as a £5k+ option. Do you think someone has a sense of humour with the naming of the paint colour? I couldn't help thinking about the flux capacitor and the unpainted steel body belonging to the Back to the Future De Lorean
I thought the car looked beautiful in the videos and photos announcing its release. In the flesh I think the car looks even better - from all angles. The bronze highlights looked good on the Flux Silver paintwork. And the carbon fibre and copper trim finishers were very nice too.
It was a nice place to be sat inside too. I like the clean lines around the dash on the passenger side. The two display screens look well thought out in terms of ergonomics and user friendliness but I don't know how robust they will be for daily use. And the car seems built to have genuine off road capability like all its stable mates.
Hopefully the quality of the driving experience will match the good looking, well thought out design of the car inside and out.
Do I want one - yes as long as the drive matches the looks. Will I be able to afford one with the right petrol engine at some in the future - I don't know but I hope so.
It was good to chat to the other reader panel members too.
I think the Reader Panel review is going to be published in the August issue of What Car.
A few pictures I took with my camera phone - not great photography but hopefully they'll be of some interest.
