ONELIFE #35 – American English

RANGE ROVER VELAR
Top left: the clean lines of the new
Velar shine in the Norse light.
Bottom left: superb fish dishes are
synonymous with Norwegian hospitality.
Bottom right: legend says fighting
trolls cause the region‘s rock falls
After lunch there’s a slight urgency in my driving to
get to the next waypoint. It’s somewhere I’ve always
wanted to drive – the Troll’s Ladder or the Trollstigen
as it’s more commonly known. This is one of the
world’s most celebrated roads. Its name reflects the
mythology in which the surrounding area is steeped,
as well as the 11 hairpin bends that carry the road
more than 2,790 ft up the mountainside. The road is
open after the annual spring rock fall, which, legend
has it, results from trolls fighting on the nearby
Trollveggen cliff causing the earth to shake.
With the mud still wet on the doors of the Velar,
a quick adjustment of the driving mode to change from
’Comfort‘ to ’Dynamic‘ turns the gauges red and brings
a newfound tautness to the car. Dampers, throttle
reaction and gear changes are all honed to facilitate
a more responsive drive.
Scything through the hairpins and feeling as if
I'm outrunning a hoard of angry trolls, my smile gets
broader. Thanks to Adaptive Dynamics (standard on all
models) wheel movement is monitored 500 times per
second, and body movements 100 times per second.
The system continuously varies the damping forces at
all four corners to improve suspension stiffness and
optimize driving conditions ** . However, it’s the steering
that really impresses.
The Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) system
has a lovely weight to it. Clever algorithms ensure
completely intuitive steering responses. This all makes
for a highly mechanical feel with variable weighting
depending on the scenario. It’s a fantastic system that
communicates constantly with you.
As the day closes, I head for the Storfjord Hotel.
The route to the hotel contains a number of deep
tunnels and it’s here where I come to love the optional
Premium-LED headlights with Auto High Beam Assist
(AHBA) ** .
For a start the full-beam lights provide visibility at
night to the tune of 650 feet – that’s alot of light! As
soon as I arrive via an off-road section at the magnificent
hotel I’m keen to tell the receptionist about this fantastic
vehicle as he hands me my key and points to my room.
** These systems are not a substitute for driving safely with due care and attention and will not
function under all circumstances, speeds, weather and road conditions, etc. Driver should
not assume that these systems will correct errors of judgment in driving. Please consult the
owner’s manual or your local authorized Land Rover Retailer for more details.
IT‘S A FANTASTIC
PIECE OF DESIGN
WORTHY OF
FOLLOWING IN
THE FOOTSTEPS
OF THE ORIGINAL
RANGE ROVER
The Storfjord Hotel is a
beautiful woodland boutique
hotel, built in the centuries-old
Norwegian loft style using solid
beams and cozy wool insula tion.
Living grass rooftops are
characteristic of traditional and
some more modern Norwegian
homes. It’s here that Norway’s
charm hits home. It’s an
incredibly forward-looking
country that lives by the
mantra: if it’s a better way to do something then it’s best
to get on and do it. But they won’t unpick old traditions
if they can’t be bettered.
For me that plays in beautifully to the biggest
attraction of the Velar. In 1970 Land Rover listened to
their customers and delivered to the world the Range
Rover – a product that had both capability and comfort
at its heart. Each new addition to the Range Rover family
has improved and bettered the range, but not at any
cost. Some things are wonderfully familiar – design,
capability, the serenity of the interior. These Range Rover
absolutes are also core to the Velar.
This vehicle is the perfect union of form and
function. It’s a fantastic piece of design worthy of
following in the footsteps of the original Range Rover –
one of the only vehicles to ever have been displayed in
the Louvre gallery in Paris, highlighting the very
pinnacle of industrial design.
Having the chance to sample the All-new Range
Rover Velar in Norway has been an inspirational
experien ce. Aside from the jaw-dropping scenery
and abundance of ‘hyggelig,’ both Norway and the
Range Rover Velar share one unshakeable premise –
they are both highly respectful of the past, but never
shackled by it.
BOOK YOUR OWN TEST DRIVE
Experience the New Range Rover Velar for yourself. Visit your local
retailer, or schedule a test drive now at landroverusa.com
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