Freelander 8 News

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Chery have confirmed the global plans for their joint-venture, the Freelander 8. The 2027 Freelander 8 has now been shown to international media in the global-market spec that will first make its way to the UAE, then to Australia and New Zealand, before it heads to Europe and the UK. The British-derived and Chinese-built model draws on the heritage of the original off-roading SUV from Land Rover, but is being developed and built in China with input from JLR. While not fundamentally different in many ways, the left-hand-drive (LHD) global specification features a 2.0-litre twin-turbo petrol engine paired with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system instead of the 1.5-litre engine range-extender EV drivetrain in China. With specifications for right-hand markets yet to be confirmed, Australian details for the Freelander, including its price, will be confirmed closer to its launch date. Given the timing laid out by Freelander International CEO Lucia Mao, Australia should expect details of the model sometime ahead of its Australian launch, which will follow the UAE’s Q1 2027 launch. The Freelander 8’s LHD global drivetrain boasts a 460kW/662Nm output that allows the large SUV to hit 100km/h in a claimed 5.8 seconds. Clearly speed isn’t the goal, but the 110km electric-only driving range and its 886km total driving range with a fully charged battery and fuel tank (under CLTC testing) join what the brand calls a ‘world-first’ intelligent off-road system in a luxury adventure vehicle. Compatriot rivals like BYD and Geely have also used similar terms for describing their tech-forward off-road systems before. Its 34.12kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery can be charged from 20 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes or less according to Freelander, though again these specifications apply to the UAE with Australian details to be confirmed. Head of Freelander for Australia and New Zealand Kym Mellow spoke to international guests at the reveal of the global Freelander 8 in Wuhu, Chery’s home city in China. His short speech detailed two potential customers he spoke with about Freelander 8 who were looking for a more tech-forward off-roader. “They don’t want to give anything up,” Mellow said, “they want to keep the design and the capability they love and add the intelligence and comfort they’ve been missing.” The tech in the Freelander 8 is certainly a statement, with a huge 1.2-metre long 46.3-inch 8K LED screen and a 15.6-inch centre display in the front, as well as a 17.3-inch optional entertainment screen for rear passengers. Zero-gravity seat options, the choice of a five-seat or plush six-seat layout and the use of Nappa leather and real wood aim to make the cabin feel a step above other compatriot premium brands.

Chery’s in the middle of a rapid expansion and has no plans to slow down. Chery relaunched in 2023, but the Chinese automotive group has added Omoda and Jaecoo already, has confirmed Lepas will start sales in October and confirmed both iCaur and Freelander will follow soon. What makes it more confusing to many, is the company has a very different approach to its multi-brand strategy than most rivals, with a significant amount of crossover in terms of both vehicles offered and pricing. Lucas Harris, Chery Australia’s Chief Operating Officer, explained the thinking behind the company to CarsGuide. “ So I think one of the differences in our approach to the brands is that established brands' way of thinking, because there are established brands that have multi-brand arrangements, they typically stack them on top of each other,” Harris said. “This one's volume, this one's kind of premium mainstream, this one's luxury, this one's a supercar. And they segment them and separate them really just by price.” “So our approach is less about pricing and much more about trying to create a unique brand image and a unique brand feeling. And, product is a big part of that and you can see quite a big difference in the design of our products across the brands. The idea is to try and have different brands that speak to different sub-sets of consumers.” Freelander will be the first brand to break that mould, with the Jaguar Land Rover joint-venture to be a genuine luxury brand, priced above Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo and Lepas. “It's very much a luxury car and is going to be in that luxury segment and have fit and finish, and be priced accordingly. So totally different from our existing products,” Harris confirmed. The introduction of so many brands does have one major challenge - finding enough dealerships to sell them. Omoda and Jaecoo models may be similar to Chery underneath, the different design has seen the brands operate in separate showrooms. For Lepas, Harris said he hopes to add up to 50 new dealerships by the end of the year, which is changing the way dealers physically carve up the space they have available on the showroom floor. “ Look, when we launched with Chery three and a half years ago I think the timing we were fortunate with, in that there wasn't as many new brands competing for showroom space at that time and so that was good,” Harris said. “And Chery really has been the catalyst for our other brands to come through and have good support from our dealers. So if we look at Lepas, maybe two-thirds of it are existing dealers that want the additional franchise and they like operating and dealing with us. And so they're pretty enthusiastic to put their hands up to get the extra brand. “It is also quite good timing that whilst some of those established brands are now not what they once were. They can't command the same 800 or 1000 square meter showrooms that they used to. And it's becoming increasingly expensive for dealers to do business in Australia. "The cost of everything's gone up from, the cost of wages and marketing, the cost of electricity, the property and rent costs are through the roof. So it's really hard for any brand, particularly a suffering established brand, to support those kinds of facilities anymore.” Which is why he’s confident he can find so many new dealers willing to sell Lepas, Freelander and potential future brands Chery Group could add. “ I would say at least every second day I get a phone call from a dealer that I've not dealt with who would like a franchise,” Harris claimed. “And I don't know, obviously they're getting my number from other dealers who are dealing with us. But yes, there's a lot of interest in working with us and it's very flattering.”

A new rugged SUV destined for Aussie buyers has just been priced overseas. The Freelander 8 will launch in China on the 3 September 2026, as the Chery and Jaguar Land Rover partnership's first official model. It is a large boxy three-row SUV measuring 5118mm long, so it rivals the Denza B8 plug-in hybrid ($91,000, before on-road costs) and more budget-focused GWM Tank 500 ($66,490, drive-away). It will also provide competition for the GAC Yue 7 and Geely Galaxy Cruiser earmarked for launch Down Under in 2027. The 8 will differ from much of its competition, sporting an SUV monocoque chassis in contrast to traditional ladder-frame set-ups. It will start in China from 339,900 yuan (or roughly $71,000), with prices rising up to $429,900 (or about $90,000), though it will be 20 to 30 per cent more in Australia. Freelander is a joint venture between Chery and JLR to revive Land Rover’s former affordable SUV's name globally. The brand is focused on selling SUVs that boast off-roading capabilities and a luxurious on-road driving experience at an affordable price point. The 8 will be the first of six China-built models launched under the Freelander name in the next five years. The car is powered by a range-extender set-up that employs a 1.5-litre petrol engine, producing 115kW to charge its 60.3kWh battery. The engine is solely responsible for charging the 60.3kWh battery, while two electric motors provide 610kW to all four wheels, offering acceleration from 0-100km/h in less than five seconds. The Freelander 8 can travel for up to 310km on pure electric power, according to the more lenient CLTC standards. The car will be available in four trim levels in a 2-2-2 six-seat layout. All variants will feature a 46.3-inch panoramic display spanning the dashboard and a 15.6-inch central touchscreen. Despite rising on an SUV monocoque chassis, it boasts a front differential lock and a rear electric limited-slip differential. This is coupled with a 2000kg towing capacity. Chery has confirmed the Freelander sub-brand is coming to Australia in 2027, but there are no official details on what models will launch here or in what order. The Freelander 8 is expected to be the first model to hit Aussie shores in mid-to-late 2027.  The brand is currently focused on introducing its Lepas lifestyle-focused sub-brand Down Under that is due to begin sales soon after a delay to launch plans.

Freelander, a new joint-venture brand between Land Rover and Chery, has detailed its upcoming debut model thanks to regulatory filings in China. The Freelander 8 was previously confirmed to be a large SUV, measuring 5118, 2050mm wide, and 1890mm long, with an enormous wheelbase of 3040mm, featuring a luxurious six-seat layout, as is popular in China. This makes the new Freelander-branded SUV about the opposite of the original Land Rover Freelander, where it played a role as the company’s smallest and most affordable vehicle. It was also known that the Freelander 8 would exclusively be a range-extender hybrid at launch, meaning it will drive the wheels only via electric motors, keeping a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine on board to serve only as a generator for its battery. New technical filings, which are required for vehicles to apply for tax exemptions in China, confirm the Freelander 8 will use an EV-sized circa-60kWh battery, allowing it a 221km pure electric driving range (seemingly a preliminary CLTC figure, more lenient than the WLTP standard more widely used in Australia), built by CATL, the world’s biggest battery manufacturer. Its 1.5-litre engine has a power output of 115kW, although no torque figure or combined outputs from its dual-motor set-up is available yet. In addition, the Freelander 8 will have a new all-terrain software system and will also feature a front mechanical differential lock, and a simulated electronic centre differential (with no mechanical linkage between the front and rear motors), and a rear electronic limited slip differential. As previously reported, the Freelander 8 will also feature dual-chamber air suspension. In addition, the large SUV will feature the latest Huawei-developed active safety and self-driving system in its Chinese home market. It will also feature a towing capability, with its capacity for the Chinese market set to 2000kg. Other new details include a battery-drained average fuel consumption of 8.18L/100km, and an apparent overall weight of 2980kg. The battery alone weighs 372kg. A full battery electric version of the car is expected to follow at a later date. The Freelander 8 is the first in a range of new Freelander vehicles, and the brand is expected to expand globally after its launch in China in the second half of 2026. According to Chery's local operation, the Freelander brand is confirmed for Australia, although it won’t be distributed by the local Chery factory-backed arm and will operate independently. It has said the same about its off-road focused own brand, Jetour, which has a similar range of boxy hybrid SUVs. Chery will need to work hard to separate its array of brands which are on the way with the ones it already offers in Australia. Currently it offers products under the Chery brand, and has a separate operation which sells cars under the Omoda/Jaecoo brands. Lepas, another passenger car marque which will use the same platforms and technology as Chery and Omoda/Jaecoo vehicles is set for an imminent launch, while Jetour is expected to follow at a later stage. Stay tuned for more information on the Freelander brand including its Chinese launch as well as its launch plans for Australia imminently.