- Freelander unveils production-ready Freelander 8 exterior and targets H2 2026 market launch.
- Freelander 8 ships standard with Huawei Qiankun ADS 5 and rooftop 896-line LiDAR for advanced driving.
- Built on iMax platform with BEV, range-extended, and PHEV options, priced at ¥300–400K.
On April 27, Freelander—the new EV venture between Chery and JLR—debuted the production exterior of its first model, the Freelander 8. This marks the brand’s official transition from concept to reality, with a market arrival slated for H2 2026.
The design of the FREELANDER 8 closely follows the style of the previously unveiled Concept 97 concept car, retaining the classic “boxy” shape of the FREELANDER while incorporating many new era new energy details.
The front face adopts a closed design, with headlamp clusters arranged in rectangular block shapes, giving a strong hardcore visual identity. The side profile features straight, clean lines, and the combination of semi-hidden door handles and flared wide wheel arches strongly highlights its off-road character.
The rear adopts nearly vertical cut lines, creating a trapezoidal stance that narrows at the top and widens at the bottom. Paired with vertical taillight clusters, it offers strong recognition. Additionally, the roof rails add practicality for outdoor travel.
Most eye-catching is the LiDAR on the roof. According to the official, the FREELANDER 8 will come standard with Huawei Qiankun ADS 5, featuring Huawei’s 896-line LiDAR, providing hardware support for advanced intelligent driving.
The FREELANDER 8 will be built on the all-new iMax architecture platform, supporting three powertrain options: battery electric, range-extended electric, and plug-in hybrid.
In terms of the three-electric system (battery, motor, and electronics), the FREELANDER 8 will come standard with an 800V high-voltage range-extended platform and jointly developed the first all-terrain-specific “Xiaoyao” extended-range hybrid battery with CATL, which supports ultra-fast charging at peak rates of up to 6C.
From a market positioning perspective, the FREELANDER 8 targets the luxury new energy all-terrain SUV segment priced between 300K and 400K RMB(~$ 44K-59K), with direct competitors including the Tank 700 Hi4-T, Fangchengbao Bao 8, Li Auto L8, and AITO M7, among other popular models.
According to the brand’s plan, FREELANDER intends to launch six models within five years, covering battery electric, range-extended, plug-in hybrid, and other powertrain types, starting with a China launch and gradually expanding to core global markets.
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