Land Rover has published the first official image of its new Range Rover Velar, which launches later this year.

Velar will sit between Evoque and Range Rover Sport in the range.

Making its world premiere on 1 March, the Velar will sit between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport, plugging a vital gap. As such it could be up against the Jaguar F-Pace and rival models such as the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE.

It’s believed to sit on Jaguar Land rover’s IQ platform, also used for the F-Pace, and is expected to bring a similar engine line-up to the F-Pace, with a possible 2.0-litre diesel with 2WD.

Land Rover’s chief design officer Gerry McGovern said the new car will “bring a new dimension of glamour, modernity and elegance to the brand”.

The naming draws on the first Range Rover prototypes of the sixties and is derived from the Latin ‘velare’ meaning to veil or cover.

More details of the model will be announced on 1 March.