Freelander 8 Debuts With 886km Combined Range and 110km Electric-Only Driving

The Freelander nameplate is officially back in circulation, this time as a joint venture brand from JLR and Chery. The revived marque used its global brand launch in Abu Dhabi on 29 September to pull the wraps off the Freelander 8, and it has now confirmed the mechanical details of the left-hand drive version shown there.

The Middle East specification pairs a 2.0-litre turbocharged hybrid engine with a 34.12kWh lithium iron phosphate battery and dual-motor all-wheel drive. Combined system output reaches up to 460kW with 662Nm of torque, enough for a 0-100km/h sprint of 5.8 seconds. Total range is quoted at 886km, of which 110km can be covered on electric power alone, while DC fast charging takes the battery from 20% to 80% in 20 minutes or less. Buyers outside the Gulf should note that figures vary by market and trim.

Inside, the launch model is a three-row, six-seat layout anchored by a 46.3-inch Mini LED display that stretches across the dashboard, complemented by a 15.6-inch central touchscreen running on Qualcomm’s SA8295P chip. Second-row seats can be specified with massage functions, and the third row provides 834mm of legroom with ventilation as standard. An all-terrain system offers nine driving modes and works alongside air suspension and continuously controlled damping, with ground clearance of up to 266mm. L2+ driver assistance with more than 30 functions is fitted as standard, and a valet parking feature will be available in selected markets.

The commercial strategy behind the Freelander 8 is unusual. JLR owns the brand and oversees its design, while Chery contributes the technology and taps into its global supply chain. That arrangement lets JLR draw revenue from a dormant heritage name without carrying the full cost of a new platform, though it also puts the two companies in the position of being partners and competitors simultaneously - Chery sells Defender-inspired models under its own iCAUR badge, which could complicate JLR’s efforts to guard its design identity.

Launching in the Gulf first is a deliberate move. The region is SUV-heavy and tariff-free, giving the brand room to build volume, and the plug-in hybrid format would sit outside the EU’s BEV-only duties should the Freelander 8 eventually reach Europe. Registration of interest has already opened in the UAE, where Al Tayer Motors and Premier Motors will serve as dealer partners. International media, content creators and dealers are due to put the vehicle through on- and off-road testing at Chery’s International User Summit in Wuhu in the coming week.