SUV The First Production Freelander 8 is Ready to Debut with Advanced Technology

The first introduction of the Freelander 8 in China. (Photo: Autocar)

Freelander officially released its first SUV (first production model) under the revived Freelander name, the model in question is the Freelander 8 which was born from the framework of the cooperation between Chery and Jaguar Land Rover.

Quoting from the Carnewschina website, Tuesday, April 28, the Freelander 8 continues the design direction of the Concept 97 and is scheduled to debut in China in the second half of 2026, followed by a global launch.

So what are the details? In terms of design, the Freelander 8 adopts a boxy SUV silhouette that is consistent with the design language of the Concept 97.

The front uses a covered surface with a rectangular light unit, while the side profile remains upright with a straight character line. The roof-mounted LiDAR is integrated into the design, reflecting its focus on driving assistance and terrain perception.

This vehicle is equipped with Huawei ADS 5 intelligent driving assistance system and 896-line LiDAR system. This vehicle is also equipped with the i-ATS intelligent all-terrain system, which integrates LiDAR data and binocular cameras for terrain recognition and driving strategy planning. This system is described as capable of supporting various terrain scenarios with adaptive control logic.

The newly formed company has not released photos of the SUV's interior, but says it will include the largest "integrated mini LED screen" in its segment, likely similar to the screen that stretches from pillar to pillar in the Concept 97 cabin. There will also be a "zero-gravity" seat in the front.

The Freelander 8 is built on a new Freelander-specific platform, which supports BEV, PHEV and extended range configurations.

In China, the 800V high-voltage extended-range system will be standardized. The battery system is developed jointly with CATL, featuring a peak charging capability of 350 kW.