Freelander has released the first official images of the interior of the Freelander 8, the first production model of the brand reborn from the partnership between Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and the Chinese Chery. The SUV arrives in the Chinese market in the second half of 2026 and bets on a six-seater cabin packed with technology.
According to Chery JLR, the Freelander 8 will adopt a 2+2+2 configuration, with two individual seats in the second row described as “zero gravity” seats, with heating, ventilation and massage. The company also cites retractable tables in the front backrests, an entertainment screen on the roof and cup holders in the armrests in the third row. One of the front seats offers up to 1.2 m of legroom.
On the dashboard, a 46.3″ panoramic screen (1.2 m wide and 8K resolution) stands out, accompanied by a 15.6″ central display. The multimedia center uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8397 processor and, according to the manufacturer, delivers superior performance than the previous generation, although the conditions of this comparison have not been revealed.
The partnership between JLR and Chery
The Freelander is no longer just the name of a model to become its own brand. JLR and Chery signed an agreement in 2024 to license the name to the joint venture that the two have had in China for more than a decade. In practice, Chery takes care of engineering and manufacturing at the Changshu plant, while JLR contributes the name and design direction. The new brand is independent of both JLR’s portfolio (Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar) and Chery’s brands, and does not even use the Land Rover logo.
From the old Freelander to the electric renaissance
The original Land Rover Freelander was produced between 1997 and 2015, over two generations, as the most compact and affordable Land Rover, below Defender, Discovery and Range Rover. It was discontinued when it was replaced by the Discovery Sport. Now, the label returns as a brand dedicated to electrified vehicles.
The new SUV uses an 800V REEV (electric with range extender) platform, with a 1.5 turbo gasoline engine that acts as a generator, with 156 hp and a 60.3 kWh CATL battery. The range in electric mode alone is 221 km (WLTC cycle), with recharging of up to 350 kW. The model measures 5.118 m long, 2.05 m wide and 1.90 m high, with a wheelbase of 3.04 m. Price, production targets and final versions have not yet been announced.
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