Freelander 8 brings concept-car looks and electrified powertrains

Freelander, the new brand created in partnership between Chinese giant Chery and JLR, has revealed its first production car, the 8.

The large electric 4x4 is described as a “production-intent” design, with the finished car set to hit Chinese roads later this year with only minimal changes.

It clearly draws on the Concept 97 that was unveiled last month, referencing its Land Rover namesake with a diagonal C-pillar.

The most significant differences from that concept are in the front and rear lights, while the rear-hinged back doors have been swapped for more conventional front-hinged items.

The 8 is based on an 800V electrical architecture and will offer a choice of electric, range-extender and plug-in hybrid powertrains, with charging rates maxing out at 350kW.

It packs twin-chamber air suspension, an electronic limited-slip differential and an all-terrain function that, supported by the roof-mounted lidar sensor, reads changes in the road surface and automatically engages the appropriate drive mode.

Further technical details are expected to be confirmed in the coming months, when the production car goes on sale in China.

Inside, a large display spans across the width of the dashboard, supported by a traditional centrally mounted infotainment touchscreen and a row of physical buttons.

Although the Freelander 8 will initially be launched in China, Chery has already confirmed plans for expansion into other global markets, including in Europe – and a right-hand-drive variant is in the works.

It remains to be seen when it will be put on sale in the UK and by whom. In China, it will be offered by Chery through a network of Freelander-specific showrooms.

The 8 is the first in a wave of new Freelanders destined for sale globally, with the brand to introduce a new model every six months for the next five years.

Freelander CEO Wen Fei previously said that any of the brand’s cars exported to Europe would not be an adapted version of a Chinese-market model but instead a bespoke derivative tailored to each market’s demands.

“International variants are currently in intensive development and shall, after launch in China, make their distinguished entry into the world's foremost markets," said Fei. “We are not exporting a Chinese car to the world but we are building a world car, for the world, from the very beginning."