Range Rover Velar EV Spotted: The Sleekest Electric SUV You've Never Seen | Taha Abbasi

Range Rover’s Electric Velar Looks Nothing Like a Traditional SUV

Technology executive and applied frontier tech builder Taha Abbasi reports that a second electric Range Rover has been spotted testing in Europe, and it’s turning heads for all the right reasons. The Range Rover Velar EV, caught with significantly less camouflage than previous sightings, looks more like a sleek fastback crossover than anything the British luxury brand has produced before — signaling a radical design departure for one of the automotive world’s most storied nameplates.

While Range Rover’s flagship Electric SUV is expected to arrive in mid-2026, the smaller Velar EV represents an equally important strategic bet. Built on JLR’s new EMA platform — separate from the MLA platform underpinning the larger Range Rover EV — the Velar EV appears to take design cues from the controversial Jaguar Type 00, the wild four-door GT concept that nearly broke the internet when it debuted in late 2024.

A Design Revolution for Range Rover

New spy images from Autocar reveal a vehicle that challenges everything we associate with the Range Rover brand. The fastback silhouette is dramatically different from the upright, commanding stance that has defined Range Rovers for decades. The roofline sweeps aggressively toward the rear, creating a coupe-like profile that prioritizes aerodynamic efficiency — a critical factor for maximizing EV range.

As Taha Abbasi observes, this design direction makes perfect engineering sense for an electric vehicle. Every reduction in aerodynamic drag translates directly to more miles per charge. Tesla proved this with the Model 3’s slippery 0.23 Cd coefficient, and legacy automakers are now following suit. Range Rover is essentially acknowledging that the boxy, upright SUV design that works beautifully with internal combustion engines creates unnecessary efficiency penalties in the EV era.

The EMA Platform: JLR’s Electric Future

The Velar EV will be one of the first vehicles based on JLR’s new Electric Modular Architecture (EMA) platform, designed specifically for smaller, more affordable electric vehicles. JLR CEO Adrian Mardell previously stated that the first EMA vehicle would arrive in “springtime in 2026,” suggesting the Velar EV could debut very soon.

The EMA platform is critical to JLR’s electrification strategy. Unlike the MLA platform (which supports both combustion and electric powertrains in the flagship Range Rover), EMA is purpose-built for EVs. This allows for optimized battery packaging, lower center of gravity, and more efficient thermal management — all factors that translate to better range, handling, and interior space.

Two Electric Range Rovers in 2026

If both vehicles arrive on schedule, 2026 will be a transformative year for Range Rover. The flagship Range Rover Electric, built on the MLA platform, targets the ultra-luxury segment with pricing likely exceeding $150,000. The Velar EV, on the smaller EMA platform, will likely start significantly lower, potentially in the $70,000-$90,000 range — competing with vehicles like the BMW iX, Mercedes EQE SUV, and Porsche Macan Electric.

Taha Abbasi notes that this dual-launch strategy is ambitious but necessary. JLR has been slower to electrify than many competitors, and the window for establishing electric credibility is closing. Launching two distinct electric Range Rovers simultaneously — one for the ultra-luxury market and one for the accessible luxury segment — demonstrates serious commitment while diversifying market risk.

The Defender Sport EV Joins the Family

The Velar EV won’t be alone on the EMA platform for long. JLR’s upcoming Defender Sport EV was also recently spotted testing and is expected to debut by the end of 2026. This creates a three-vehicle electric Range Rover and Land Rover lineup within a single year, covering luxury, sport-luxury, and rugged adventure segments.

For adventure-oriented EV enthusiasts — a demographic that Rivian has owned virtually unopposed — an electric Defender represents perhaps the most credible challenger. The Defender brand carries decades of off-road credibility that Rivian, for all its merits, simply cannot match.

What This Means for the Luxury EV Market

The luxury EV market is about to get extraordinarily competitive. Between BMW’s Neue Klasse lineup, Mercedes’s next-generation MMA platform vehicles, Porsche’s expanding electric range, and now two electric Range Rovers, the traditional luxury segment is finally offering compelling EV alternatives to Tesla’s Model S and Model X.

Taha Abbasi sees this as a pivotal moment. The luxury segment has been the slowest to electrify convincingly — despite luxury buyers being the most able to afford EV premiums. The Velar EV’s striking fastback design suggests that JLR understands something important: electric luxury vehicles need to look and feel different from their combustion predecessors. You can’t just swap a powertrain and call it innovation. The entire design language needs to evolve.

Production of the Velar EV is scheduled to begin in 2027 at JLR’s Halewood facility, with a formal debut expected by the end of 2026. For luxury SUV buyers who have been waiting for an electric Range Rover that isn’t just a converted combustion platform, the wait is nearly over.

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About the Author: Taha Abbasi is a technology executive, CTO, and applied frontier tech builder. Read more on Grokpedia | YouTube: The Brown Cowboy | tahaabbasi.com