Right here’s an enormous shock – barely three weeks after debuting the Idea 97, Freelander has revealed the production-intent mannequin, merely referred to as the Freelander 8, on the sidelines of the continuing Auto China present on the Chery Worldwide Enterprise Summit in Wuhu. As beforehand reported, it is a far cry from the unique child Land Rover, being a large three-row SUV as a substitute.
Confused? Let’s offer you a little bit of a primer. The previous Land Rover nameplate ended up within the palms of Chery after it signed a take care of its associate in 2024 to develop it right into a separate model. This grew to become much more vital to Jaguar Land Rover than beforehand thought, because it grew to become identified that the nascent marque would exchange the manufacturing of all JLR fashions because the Changsha plant.
Anyway, the Freelander 8 continues to be designed by the British agency, led by design hub director Phil Simmons – a designer at Land Rover again when the unique Freelander was being developed (he additionally penned the gorgeous L322 Vary Rover, natch). This explains why the automobile nonetheless appears to be like prefer it got here from Solihull, with greater than a passing resemblance to a different trendy basic, the rectilinear Discovery 3.
The manufacturing mannequin is a comparatively devoted recreation of the Idea 97, albeit with some apparent fanciful present automobile touches ditched. Most notable of those is the dearth of a putting two-tone color scheme and the vertical shows that make up the head- and taillights.
A lot of the remainder has been retained, together with Land Rover’s signature interlocking headlights, the big Freelander script entrance and rear, outstanding skid plates, a gloss black end for the physique cladding and spherical wheel arches, slim rectangular taillights and even the criss-cross alloy wheels – right here measuring a nonetheless huge 22 inches in diameter.
Maybe essentially the most distinctive design cue stays the triangular rear three-quarter home windows, lifted from the first-generation Freelander three-door cabriolet. So proud is the agency of the design that it has even made it the brand, representing the letters F and L. Sadly, the Idea 97’s detachable rear cover has been jettisoned, as have the suicide doorways – you get regular doorways and mechanical pull-up door handles as a substitute.
Inside, the Freelander 8 options the Idea 97’s widescreen show that spans from A-pillar to A-pillar. This apes the Panoramic Imaginative and prescient show discovered within the new BMW iX3 and i3, albeit with out the costly projection expertise. Beneath this sits a big infotainment touchscreen, a row of bodily air-con controls and a pair of rotary knobs.
The second row may be specced with twin captain’s chairs with built-in ottomans, heated, ventilated and massaging capabilities and one-touch “zero gravity” recline. The third row, however, options typical twin seats relatively than the idea’s lounge-like wraparound pews.
No technical particulars have been revealed simply but, however provided that Freelander has been arrange as a brand new power car (NEV) model, count on it to be supplied in electrical and plug-in hybrid variants (the prototype you see right here has twin ports for gas and charging. The corporate additionally says the automobile will supply the primary Clever All-Terrain System (i-ATS) with 9 off-road modes, together with a “digital” locking centre differential, an digital locking rear differential and dual-chamber air suspension.
The Freelander 8 is the primary of six new fashions deliberate to be launched over the subsequent 5 years. The Chery JLR plant in Changsha it will likely be inbuilt has acquired US$1.5 billion (RM5.9 billion) in funding, with US$440 million (RM1.7 billion) spent on upgrades alone to show it into an “clever” manufacturing base.
The model will start its international presence within the Center East and expects to finally be offered in 90 nations worldwide. Whereas Malaysian gross sales have but to be confirmed, the corporate has already stated it is going to conduct testing of prototypes in Southeast Asia amongst different locations, and it expects to obtain a five-star ASEAN NCAP security score. Would you purchase a Freelander 8 if it reaches our shores? Tell us within the feedback.
GALLERY: Freelander Idea 97 at Auto China 2026
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