Minimalism On Wheels

ELLE got to test drive the new Range Rover Velar through the boulevards of Paris. Here is Riaan Jacob George's verdict

- Riaan Jacob George

As luxury cars get fancier, you'd expect them to be shinier, flashier and resolutely over the top. But the design team at the Tata Sons-owned Jaguar Land Rover seems to think otherwise. It's minimalism for the win, as seen on the newly minted Range Rover Velar that we got a first drive of recently. The manufacturer's design team member, Arvinder Singh Powar, in conversation with me, uses the evocative term reductive design, which points towards a minimalist, understated approach to design as today's drivers are looking for less clutter within the cabin, which wraps you in a quiet, zen-like space.

In terms of design, the Range Rover Velar is an exercise in design restraint and driving it through the leafy boulevards of Paris, juxtaposed with the facades of Haussmann's buildings, is a treat. Let's start with the exteriors. You have a redesigned front grille, Pixel LED lights, and fresh tail lights with clean lines. Fans of the Velar will, of course, rave about the unmistakable overhang, giving the SUV an overall refined but powerful road presence.