Freelander has released official images of the Freelander 8, the first production model under the revived Freelander nameplate. The SUV is developed through the Chery and Jaguar Land Rover NEV cooperation framework, and is scheduled to debut in China in the second half of 2026 before a global rollout, according to Y-Auto. The design follows the direction set by the Concept 97 show car.
The images were published on Weibo, offering the first clear look at a production-spec exterior.
From concept to production validation
Chery and JLR formally launched the Freelander NEV brand earlier this year, positioning it as a global new energy SUV line built across a multi-year, multi-model strategy. The Concept 97 was the starting point.
The program has since moved quickly. Recent reporting confirmed the Freelander 8 entered production validation after completing extreme durability and environmental testing. That phase means the vehicle is beyond engineering prototypes and into pre-production calibration — a significant step ahead of a second-half 2026 launch.
Design: boxy silhouette, closed front, roof-mounted LiDAR
The Freelander 8 carries a boxy SUV silhouette consistent with the Concept 97. The front end uses a closed surface with rectangular lighting units. The side profile is upright with straight character lines. Roof-mounted LiDAR is integrated into the bodywork — a design choice that also signals the car’s focus on assisted driving and terrain sensing.
Huawei ADS 5, 896-line LiDAR, and all-terrain intelligence
The Freelander 8 is equipped with Huawei ADS 5 intelligent driving assistance and an 896-line LiDAR system. It pairs this with an i-ATS intelligent all-terrain system, which fuses LiDAR and binocular camera data to identify terrain types and plan driving strategy across multiple off-road scenarios. The computing hardware is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8397, part of a centralised vehicle control platform.
Platform: BEV, PHEV, EREV, and 800V charging
The Freelander 8 is built on Freelander’s dedicated new platform, which supports battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and extended-range configurations. For the Chinese market, the car standardises an 800V high-voltage range-extended system. The battery is jointly developed with CATL, with a peak charging capability of 350 kW and up to 6C charging performance per the technical specifications.
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