Calling on history to make a modern point
When you tell your golfing buddies that you’ve just come back from the launch of the Range Rover Velar, they ask, “What sort of name is that?”
A new entry-level Range Rover Velar is set to be the model Kiwi motorists can better afford.
The 2L Velar P250, powered by the latest petrol-fuelled Ingenium engine, will go on sale in New Zealand later this month with a starting price of $114,900 + orc.
That’s $20,000 less than the 3L version and, for the first 35 vehicles sold, it comes with a free R-Design style pack upgrade. The price is expected to be well received; it mirrors the strategy used with the Range Rover Evoque 2L model.
The P250 has similar specifications to the 3L model, with only 100kg difference in the braked towing capacity of 2400kg. Performance-wise, the P250 Velar’s 185kW/365Nm engine accelerates the car from 0-100km in 6.7 seconds and offers up to 6.7L/100km fuel economy.
It won the World Car Design of the Year title at the 2018 World Car Awards, dubbed the most beautifully designed vehicle on the planet.
The RR Velar comes with optional Kvadrat designed seats covered with an environmentally friendly fabric that combines a NZ Merino wool blend with faux suede made from recycled plastic bottles.
The P250 Velar will come standard with the latest in entertainment and safety technology and safety systems that include remote access from the InControl app. This allows the owner to lock and unlock the vehicle, check the fuel tank level or see where the vehicle is parked using a smartphone or smartwatch. It also enables remote engine starts and climate control setting.
And there’s more: SOS Emergency call technology with automatic collision detection and optimised assistance. In an emergency, an SOS call tells the emergency service the vehicle’s location. In the event of a breakdown, optimised assistance transmits a GPS location and diagnostics data to a recovery company.
What’s been a "rubbish" summer for campers and beachgoers has duck hunters in the lower North Island rubbing their hands together in anticipation of a bumper waterfowl season, which starts this weekend (May 2/3).
New research suggests sheep and beef farmers could improve both profitability and emissions efficiency by increasing lamb weaning weights, with only marginal changes in total greenhouse gas emissions.
Southland farmers are being encouraged to get ahead of the winter grazing season by attending a practical field day in Pukerau next week.
New Zealand communities are being encouraged to participate in Road Safety Week, running from 4 - 10 May, with a nationwide push to raise awareness and reduce road harm.
Penske Australia & New Zealand has appointed Stephen Kelly as the general manager of its Penske NZ operations, effective immediately In this role he will oversee all NZ branch operations, including energy solutions, mining, commercial vehicles, defence, marine, and rail, while continuing to be based at Penske’s Christchurch branch.
According to the latest Federated Farmers-Rabobank Farm Remuneration Report, released today, farm worker pay growth has levelled off after a post-Covid period of rapid growth.

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