16 hours ago
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A storied Land Rover badge is coming back on a Chinese car co-developed with Chery, powered by electric and range-extender hybrid drivetrains.
Electric Cars
The Land Rover Freelander has returned 25 years after the launch of the original on a new SUV brand half-owned by Chinese car giant Chery, due in Australian showrooms in 2027.
After the debut of a concept in recent weeks, the revived Freelander marque has revealed a "production-intent model" of its first road car, the seven-seat Freelander 8, at an event in China distinct from the ongoing Beijing motor show.
Freelander is a joint-venture between Chery and Land Rover, spun off to sit outside of both marques' regular line-ups, and planned to spawn six models in three years, focused on hybrid and electric power.
Australian arrivals are due sometime in 2027, with local testing to occur in the meantime.
The Freelander 8 may look small, but overseas reports indicate it is 5.1 metres long – greater than a Toyota Prado or Land Rover Defender 110 – with six seats spread across three rows.
Design details such as the signature triangular rear quarter window pay tribute to the original Freelander of the late 1990s, with the geometric headlights a nod to the facelifted 2004 version.
Chery has not published photos of the cabin, but images captured at the car's reveal show a slim display stretching across the width of the cabin, plus a large infotainment touchscreen, and physical switches below.
There are second-row 'zero gravity' seats, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 processor for the screen that also runs the car's safety systems, including lane-centring assist and automatic parking in car parks from a phone app.
Few technical details have been confirmed, but the Freelander 8 reportedly shares technology with the T1X platform under Chery's current range of family SUVs.
Battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and range-extender (REEV) – where the petrol engine is used solely as a generator to keep the batteries powering the electric motors that drive the wheels – options will be offered.
The range-extender will use a new "all-terrain-specific" battery pack claimed to charge at up to 360kW, and is fitted with underbody protection.
Off-road technology in lieu of traditional locking differentials includes a limited-slip rear differential with a "virtual centre lock", and dual-chamber air suspension.
A new i-ATS all-terrain drive-mode system appears similar in concept to Land Rover's Terrain Response, switching between nine modes and reacting to surface changes in real time.
The Freelander 8 will be produced by Chery at its joint-venture factory with Jaguar Land Rover in Changshu, north-west of Shanghai, with the British firm focusing on the design of the car.
Freelander says 1000 prototypes will be deployed globally, including in Australia, to prepare the vehicle for a global launch starting in the Middle East, ahead of Australia in 2027.
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Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
