Story and photos by Andreas Conradt, Automedia
Range Rover Velar Sheds Camouflage
A rather handsome sport utility vehicle (SUV) with genuine corner-carving capabilities, the Range Rover Velar is many things to many people. Starting with the '27 model year, it will undergo a radical switchover from combustion to electric-only power.
Whether this change will result in greater commercial success and profit margins or not, it’s far too early to formulate an educated guess, especially when you also remember that electric-vehicle (EV) sales lean heavily toward affordable EVs. In any case, this zero-emissions transition will result in the sleekest Range Rover Velar to date.
Based on the completely new Electrified Modular Architecture, the SUV that will succeed the internal combustion Range Rover Velar is a fastback-style affair with a coupe-like profile. A swoopy design that may lack a rear window, the Range Rover Velar Electric shows very slim lighting signatures for the front and rear ends.
Apparently longer than its forerunner, the all-electric redesign further stands out by means of a shorter front overhang and large wheels mounted with low-profile rubber. Flush glazing and razor-thin shutlines are featured as well along with little in the way of rear quarter windows. The bold exterior design should be complemented by a reassuringly minimalist interior. Touch-sensitive interfaces will surely outnumber physical controls.
Technologically speaking, Jaguar Land Rover is certain to surprise with next-gen connectivity features powered by the Tata Communications MOVE platform. Expect much improved diagnostics, over-the-air updates, media streaming and everything in between these realities of modern-day motoring.
Rumored to be Jaguar Land Rover's first EV to ride on the aforementioned EMA platform, the Range Rover Velar Electric is rocking a cell-to-pack battery architecture. Instead of traditional modules, the cells are packed directly into the battery tray to fit more of them into the same physical footprint as a modular battery.
By eliminating the module-level hardware, Jaguar Land Rover also intends to reduce the vehicle's overall mass. A subsidiary of the Tata Group has been contracted to design and supply the prismatic cells of EMA models. It goes without saying that 800V are on the menu as well for extremely fast charging.
JLR's drive units for EMA models are supposedly different from the drive units of the Range Rover Sport Electric and Range Rover Electric, which are both underpinned by the MLA-Flex platform. On the subject of straight-line thrills, a tri-motor powertrain with more than 1,000 hp may be in development for the most exciting version of the Range Rover Velar Electric.
Jaguar is already validating such a setup, and the grand tourer previewed by the Type 00 concept further promises around 479 miles of WLTP range on a full charge. Being a taller vehicle with off-road credentials, the Range Rover Velar Electric may not match the Jaguar-targeted range of the Type 00.
All-Electric and All-Sporty: The Opel Corsa GSE
The previous performance version of the Opel Corsa, the Corsa OPC, was still powered by a 1.6L turbo gasoline engine--complete with a throaty sound from the sports exhaust system. The future top-of-the-range model of the compact car, on the other hand, is set to accelerate silently.
According to Stellantis, the first orders will be possible before the end of this year. The Corsa GSE follows the Opel Mokka GSE, with which it shares some technical components. The compact sports car is based on the current Corsa and thus on the CMP platform. The new-generation Corsa is not expected to arrive until 2027.
Visually, the Corsa GSE could clearly stand out from the production model. The first teaser image showed a distinctive and expressive wheel design, and now our photographer has managed to snap a few shots in early-morning twilight. The colorful camouflage makes the whole car appear more dynamic, but of course this is only a clever disguise. If, on the other hand, the manufacturer continues to take its cue from the Mokka GSE, a new color scheme could play a role.
Stellantis has not yet released any specific technical data. However, if the Mokka is used as a benchmark here, the Corsa GSE could have similar performance figures. The Mokka GSE has 281 hp and accelerates to 62 mph in 5.9 seconds. Eurig Druce, group managing director at Stellantis in the UK, says the Corsa GSE is designed to combine everyday practicality with performance and dynamism.
The GSE logo originally dates back to the '70s. One of the first models was the Opel Commodore A GS/E. At that time, the three letters stood for Grand Sport Einspritzer (German for injection).
In 2022, Opel reintroduced the GSE label. Since then, however, it has stood for Grand Sport Electric and has been used to distinguish plug-in hybrid models in the Astra, Astra Sports Tourer and previous Grandland generations. The next stage of evolution followed in 2025. In the future, the GSE emblem will only be found on purely electric Opel models. All models also combine a sporty look with more dynamic chassis tuning. The Opel Mokka GSE is the first model under this label.
In addition, the Rüsselsheim-based company presented the Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo concept car in 2025. The show car was displayed in person at the IAA in Munich. It also made its way into the PlayStation game Gran Turismo 7 in fall 2025. Virtually, the Corsa GSE has 800 hp. These performance figures are unlikely to make it into the production model. Nevertheless, it remains interesting to see whether the production GSE will bear any similarities to this concept car.
