Why did this eagerly-awaited mid-size luxury SUV make its west coast debut at a watch store? Because Land Rover and Zenith have collaborated on a beautiful timepiece called the Chronomaster El Primero Range Rover Velar Special Edition, and it’s only fitting to showcase the car alongside its namesake jewelry.

VIP guests of Land Rover, Zenith, and Westime were offered an intimate opportunity to experience the luxury, convenience, and design of the new Velar ahead of its arrival at dealerships this September.

On the outside, this First Edition Velar features an immaculate paint finish accented with bronze detailing on the front fascia, hood, and character line — these accents are one of my favorite design elements of the vehicle.

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Design Officer, said that “the Range Rover Velar brings a new dimension of modernity, elegance and a touch of glamour to the Range Rover family.” And based on the reactions of those in attendance, I’d have to say that everyone agrees with that statement.

When you slide into the posh interior, the first thing to catch your eye is the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system. This dual touchscreen system is part of a new generation of in-car technologies from Land Rover, and offers users the ability to monitor and control multiple features simultaneously for the ultimate in flexibility and accessibility. Gone are the days when you have to flip through one menu screen at a time.

I’m looking forward to having some quality time behind the wheel of the new Range Rover Velar so I can experience its adaptive dynamics, electronic air suspension, terrain response, and other performance features as part of an in-depth review.

In the meantime, check out a gallery of photos from the west coast debut of the Range Rover Velar First Edition.

To learn more about the Range Rover Velar, visit Land Rover’s official website.

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Whether it be class, capability or style, Land Rover aims to separate itself from the core group of competitors. This is a vehicle that delivers a heavy dose of character and presence. The LR4 maintains its strong, squared jaw-line and carries the boxy design through to the safari inspired windows wrapped around the rear. It’s a vehicle that rides high while floating over the road. The combination of air suspension and its excessive weight creates a smooth ride that further enhances the sense of a luxury appointed interior. The HSE option adds several interior niceties including a heated steering wheel and third row seating, among others. It’s apparent that this is an SUV built to excel, though gas mileage is one factor detracting from the overall package. As hinted at earlier, the weight – nearly tipping the scales at three tons – dramatically hinders range. Despite a smaller supercharged V6 replacing the older V8 rumble, it’s unlikely any LR4 will pass too many gas stations before refueling. However, lest you forget this isn’t an SUV designed for hypermiling but backcountry competence.

It’s not expected that off-road wonder would be lost with this model, but it may be hard to accept when presented with finely stitched leather and polished wood inserts. There are fairly notable performance cues seen in the Terrain Response system though. Ranging from normal driving conditions to snow, mud, and sand, it’s safe to assume that this $62K vehicle can overcome most challenges. Granted, I wasn’t about to stride beyond the bounds of safe off-roading, but I intended to see what was possible. It turns out it’s a lot more than you’d expect – especially on road tires.

The work week had finally come to a close allowing some wheel time in search of gentle “off-roading.” Full of empty expectations generated by a sprawling metro-Detroit, I stumbled across what appeared to be a forgotten park littered with aging pavilions and overgrown brush. Proving to be a most suitable location, largely being that it was tucked away from view, it presented a series of narrow, muddy trails and the occasional steep slope. My excitement had grown with anticipation of actually utilizing purpose built technology, albeit in a very limited fashion. Nevertheless I pushed forward.

As I continued crawling from trail to trail exploring the greater reaches of the park’s design, I encountered the first steep incline. This was an ideal situation to engage the low range gearbox and mud terrain setting. Without hesitation, the Land Rover crept closer to the messy summit where it eventually perched itself proudly atop the plateau. After scanning the horizon while plotting a rough course in search of more obstacles, I continued along the same route but relied on Hill Descent Control in this downward direction. There’s something unnerving about keeping your foot off the brake while rolling toward a crest, but the systems had it sorted and carried us to level ground in a controlled manner. This was a clear reminder that Land Rover, and more specifically the LR4, is still a very thorough and capable off-roader.

After a couple of hours roaming about the country-side, I drove back to town with mud caked wheel wells. Though most Land Rovers only experience the confines of parking lots and an accompanying clean image, a dirtied badge on the LR4 seemed just as natural. It looked accomplished against glass-faced buildings and jet-black SUVs. It’s fair to state that, despite the plush interior and a large departure from their original farm truck design, Land Rover is well deserving of the off-road crown. The brand, again, has bolstered unmatched levels of comfort while exceeding expectations when surrounded by rough terrain.

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