A New Era for Land Rover: The Return of the Freelander
A legacy badge from Land Rover is making a comeback, this time on a Chinese-made SUV co-developed with Chery. This new vehicle is set to be powered by electric and range-extender hybrid technologies, marking a significant shift in the automotive landscape.
The Land Rover Freelander has made a return 25 years after its initial launch, now under a new SUV brand that is half-owned by the Chinese car giant Chery. It is expected to hit Australian showrooms in 2027. Following the debut of a concept model recently, the revived Freelander brand has unveiled a “production-intent model” of its first road car, the seven-seat Freelander 8, at an event in China that took place separately from the ongoing Beijing motor show.
Freelander is a joint venture between Chery and Land Rover, created as a separate entity outside of both brands’ regular line-ups. The company plans to introduce six models over three years, focusing on hybrid and electric powertrains.
Australian arrivals are scheduled for sometime in 2027, with local testing planned in the interim.
Despite its compact appearance, the Freelander 8 is reported to be 5.1 metres long, surpassing the size of a Toyota Prado or Land Rover Defender 110. It features six seats spread across three rows. Design elements such as the signature triangular rear quarter window pay homage to the original Freelander from the late 1990s, while the geometric headlights nod to the facelifted 2004 version.
Chery has not released photos of the cabin, but images captured during the car’s reveal show a slim display stretching across the width of the cabin, along with 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 powers the car’s safety systems, including lane-centring assist and automatic parking via a phone app.
Few technical details have been confirmed, but the Freelander 8 reportedly shares technology with the T1X platform used in Chery’s current family SUVs. Battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and range-extender (REEV) options will be available. The range-extender will use a new “all-terrain-specific” battery pack claimed to charge at up to 360kW, and it is equipped with underbody protection.
Off-road technology includes a limited-slip rear differential with a “virtual centre lock,” and dual-chamber air suspension, replacing traditional locking differentials.
A new i-ATS all-terrain mode system appears similar in concept to Land Rover’s Terrain Response, offering nine modes that react 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 plans to deploy 1000 prototypes globally, including in Australia, to prepare the vehicle for a global launch starting in the Middle East, ahead of its arrival in Australia in 2027.
