Freelander, the joint venture marque developed by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover, will go on sale in Australia and New Zealand in 2027.
The announcement was made at the Freelander 8’s international launch in the United Arab Emirates, which will be the first market outside China to retail the new spin-off brand.
Naturally the first model to be sold on our side of the world will also be the Freelander 8. Quite when in 2027 the Freelander 8 lands Down Under has yet to be revealed.
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Kym Mellow, an executive who has previously held senior roles at Mazda and importer Inchcape, has been appointed to lead the Freelander brand in Australia and New Zealand.
In a prepared statement, Mr Mellow said: “Freelander has always been an invitation to explore more of this country. We’re reimagining it as a premium, technology-led brand built for gravel tracks and city streets alike, and we’re investing in the Dealer partnerships and local team to make every part of ownership live up to that promise.”
No details about the Freelander 8’s local pricing and specifications have released yet, except that it will “compete with premium large SUVs from established European and Japanese brands”.
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Measuring 5185mm long, 2050mm wide, 1898mm tall, and riding on a 3040mm wheelbase, the Freelander 8 is several city blocks larger than the 4422mm long Land Rover Freelander from the late 1990s that serves as its design inspiration.
Indeed, its length splits the difference between the short and long wheelbase versions of the current Range Rover.
Based on a Chery platform, the Freelander 8 is available in China solely with an dual-motor all-wheel drive extended range EV drivetrain making a total of 610kW and 813Nm, which can apparently launch this 2980kg behemoth from 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds.
It’s fitted with a 60kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery, and has a 310km EV driving range according to the generous WLTC standard. The car’s 800V electrical system supports DC fast charging up to 350kW.
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A 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 105kW and 220Nm lives under the bonnet, but its only job is to recharge the battery when it begins running low.
With its engine air intake located 1213mm off the ground and the air conditioning intake at a height of 1141mm, as well as triple-sealing around the doors, tailgate and various other areas, the Freelander 8 is said to have a wading depth of 900mm.
There’s also a choice of 4L and 4H modes, a front differential lock, and extensive driver control over suspension height and driving modes. The standard ride height is 270mm, but this can be raised by 70mm on rough terrain and lowered by 50mm for easier ingress and egress, as well as better performance on the road.
The interior features luxurious-looking materials, a minimalist design and customisable ambient lighting. Sitting in the centre of the dashboard is a 15.6-inch touchscreen, which is thankfully underscored by a row of physical controls, as well as some dials on the centre console.
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Stretching out across the width of the car at the base of windscreen is an 46.3-inch 8K display, while passengers in the rear can entertain themselves with a 17.3-inch screen that flips down from the ceiling.
Other interior features include lie-flat front seats, fold-out tables in the front seat backs, captain’s chairs in the second row, electric window shades for the rear doors, and a 10L refrigerated cooler bin.
Production of the Freelander 8 began in July at Chery Jaguar Land Rover’s factory in Changshu, China. The plant, which is about 1.5 hours north west of Shanghai, previously produced Jaguar vehicles for the Chinese market, and is due to finish production of Land Rover models by the end of the year.
Freelander plans to launch six models over the next five years, but so far only the 8 has been revealed.
