RAY MASSEY: Range Rover's new supermodel has the celebrities swooning

The stars were out in force for the launch of the most beautiful Range Rover yet. Indeed, it far outshone the celebrities viewing it.

The new mid-sized Velar, designed to appeal to women, is aimed at those who shun leather, but still like life's little luxuries.

Well-heeled customers have the option of high-tech, man-made fabrics created from recycled plastic bottles as an alternative to traditional, high-grade hides.

Hot wheels: Model Poppy Delevingne with new Range Rover Velar which is designed to appeal to women

Hot wheels: Model Poppy Delevingne with new Range Rover Velar which is designed to appeal to women

Actor Damian Lewis, socialite and model Poppy Delevingne, comedians Rob Brydon and Jimmy Carr, Zara Tindall, model David Gandy, Sharleen Spiteri from the band Texas, and broadcaster Piers Morgan were among the VIPs at the launch at the new Design Museum in Kensington, West London, ahead of the car's appearance at next week's Geneva Motor Show.

The top-range Velar still features the highest-grade, animal-skin trim — soft, perforated Windsor leather for the seats and dashboard.

But options also include a man-made microfibre material, Suedecloth, created from recycled plastic bottles and crafted into a textured, non-woven material that is soft to touch.

Poppy Delevingne, left, and Damian Lewis, right attended the  world premier of the new Range Rover

Poppy Delevingne, left, and Damian Lewis, right attended the  world premier of the new Range Rover

Guests wanted to get a close up view of the new Velar which was shown publicly for the first time this week in London

Guests wanted to get a close up view of the new Velar which was shown publicly for the first time this week in London

The new Range Rover may still boast some off road credentials but it is firmly aimed at women 

The new Range Rover may still boast some off road credentials but it is firmly aimed at women 

They have also used a fabric made from a 30 per cent blend of New Zealand wool with polyester. 

Land Rover admits that the inclusion of some wool blends may still not be acceptable to vegans — but said it was a 'step in the right direction'.

Leather-free options cost from £620 to £2,465.

Jaguar Land Rover bosses admitted they considered what their female customers would like when designing the new car

Jaguar Land Rover bosses admitted they considered what their female customers would like when designing the new car

The Range Rover Velar has also been built with driving enjoyment in mind, designed to offer comfort and pace on the road

The Range Rover Velar has also been built with driving enjoyment in mind, designed to offer comfort and pace on the road

Gerry McGovern of Range Rover described the car as being designed especially for the female market 

Gerry McGovern of Range Rover described the car as being designed especially for the female market 

The new Velar is the fourth member of the 47-year-old Range Rover family and takes its name from the codename used on the original 26 pre-production Range Rover prototypes of 1969 — derived from the Latin velaris meaning 'to veil or cover'.

Costing between £44,830 and £85,830, it fills the gap between the smaller £40,000 Evoque 4x4 and the larger £80,000 Range Rover Sport.

Topping the four-strong range is the ultra high-performance Range Rover SV Autobiography costing more than £150,000.

  • The replacement for Land Rover Defender could be built abroad, though 'designed and engineered in Britain', according to Jaguar Land Rover boss Ralf Speth. The firm blames a lack of capacity at its UK plants and Brexit. Slovakia is favoured.

NEW ROLLER IS HIT WITH THE KIDS

Low roller: The Rolls-Royce SRH is the luxury car maker's smallest car ever

Low roller: The Rolls-Royce SRH is the luxury car maker's smallest car ever

Rolls-Royce has built its smallest-ever car — a one-off mini electric limousine for young hospital patients close to its boutique factory at Goodwood, West Sussex.

The Rolls-Royce SRH takes its name from the initials of St Richard's Hospital paediatric day surgery unit — where the car has been donated so children can 'drive themselves to theatre' along hospital corridors to reduce stress.

The hand-crafted, single-seater battery powered car has a top speed of 10 mph — which can be limited to 4 mph.

Fun factor: The one-off mini electric limousine was designed for young hospital patients close to its boutique factory at Goodwood, West Sussex

Fun factor: The one-off mini electric limousine was designed for young hospital patients close to its boutique factory at Goodwood, West Sussex

Future boss: The SRH takes its name from the initials of St Richard's Hospital paediatric day surgery unit

Future boss: The SRH takes its name from the initials of St Richard's Hospital paediatric day surgery unit

It was created by the firm's bespoke manufacturing team over three months in their own time. The car took 400 man-hours to complete.

It is charged from the mains overnight, has a leather seat and steering wheel, special paddles to control speed, and a two-tone paint-scheme. 

The company declined to put a cost on the vehicle, calling it 'priceless'.

Car prices are up by an average 5.2 per cent in the seven months since the EU referendum — leaving us paying nearly £2 billion more for our vehicles, according to research from consumer magazine What Car?

Families are bearing the brunt of price hikes as makers seek to boost profits from the new 17 plate which came in on Wednesday.

A Volvo XC60 — £36,943 before the June vote — is now £41,676, up £4,733 or 12.8 per cent. A Renault Grand Scenic, £23,862 then, is now £27,633, up £3,771 or 15.8 per cent.

  • Next week's Geneva Motor Show marks the start of spring in the automotive calendar. Upmarket brand DS will show its DS 7 Crossback suv (below) to take on rivals such as the Range Rover Evoque. And Renault will relaunch its Alpine A110.
Upmarket brand DS will show its DS 7 Crossback suv  to take on rivals such as the Range Rover Evoque at the Geneva Motor Show

Upmarket brand DS will show its DS 7 Crossback suv to take on rivals such as the Range Rover Evoque at the Geneva Motor Show

 

 

 

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