Remember Land Rover’s Freelander and Freelander 2, last seen on these shores in 2014?
Well, not only is the Freelander back, but it’s back as a standalone brand if the news coming out of China is any indication.
Chery and Land Rover has teamed up to produce the all-electric Freelander 8 which has made its debut at the Shanghai motor show.
Going forward the car of cars will be produced at the Chery Jaguar Land Rover plant in Changshu.
Designed under the direction of JLR’s Phil Simmons, whose previous work includes the Range Rover Velar and Land Rover Defender, the Freelander 8 blends familiar British design cues with a more contemporary, technology-led focus.
“The opportunity with Freelander was to respect its heritage while making it relevant for modern customers,” Simmons said.
“That means clean, confident design paired with genuinely useful technology.”
The Freelander 8 carries over several signature elements from the original model, including the distinctive silhouette and trademark rear-quarter window, while introducing a more technical, squared-off lighting signature and stronger road presence.
A ‘castle body’ design theme underpins the exterior, combining a solid, planted stance with a lighter upper cabin – a look aimed at balancing urban appeal with off-road credibility.
Inside, the focus shifts to space, visibility and digital integration.
A large-format Mini LED display dominates the cabin, bringing together vehicle data, navigation and real-time driving information in a single interface.
Freelander is positioning the 8 as a genuine all-rounder, with a new Intelligent All-Terrain System (i-ATS) designed to automatically adapt to changing surfaces.
The system offers nine terrain modes and works in conjunction with hardware including an electronic limited-slip differential, air suspension and a virtual centre locking function.
These features are expected to resonate with Australian buyers who regularly transition between urban driving and regional or off-road environments.
The Freelander nameplate, first introduced in the late 1990s, is being re-positioned as a premium, technology-focused SUV brand for global markets.
Freelander 8 represents the first step in that strategy, with further details, including Australian launch timing expected closer to production.
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