Reborn Freelander headed to Australia
It’s not quite a Land Rover and not quite a Chery but the new Freelander 8 promises to be the best of both.
Snapshot
- The Freelander name returns as a standalone global brand, with the new Freelander 8 developed through a JLR–Chery partnership combining design expertise and EV technology.
- Positioned as a larger, premium SUV, it blends Land Rover heritage styling with modern tech, including a spacious 6–7 seat interior and advanced infotainment.
- Expected in Australia around 2027, the Freelander 8 will offer multiple electrified powertrains and strong off-road capability via its new Intelligent All-Terrain System.
You won’t find any Land Rover badges on the new Freelander 8, nor any Chery badges, despite the all-new vehicle being the result of a joint venture collaboration between Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Chery.
That’s because the reborn Freelander is now a brand in its own right, much like what JLR has done with the Range Rover, Defender, and Discovery under its ‘House of Brands’ approach.
From compact soft-roader to global premium SUV brand
First introduced in 1997 as a compact soft-roader within a range that included the Defender, Discovery and Range Rover vehicles, the UK-built Freelander survived for two model generations until being replaced by the Discovery Sport in 2015.
More than a decade later, the resuscitated nameplate is being repositioned as a premium, technology-focused SUV brand for global markets under a strategy that will eventually see multiple hybrid and electric models launched under the Freelander brand in the next few years.
The first step in that strategy is the Freelander 8 which will be produced at the Chery Jaguar Land Rover plant in Changshu, China, with Chery bringing its advanced battery electric vehicle technology to the partnership, while JLR brings the established Freelander brand name and its design expertise.
Design evolution blending heritage and modern tech
The Freelander 8 has been designed under the direction of Phil Simmons who is also responsible for the Range Rover Velar and Land Rover Defender.Described by Simmons as a “clean, confident design paired with genuinely useful technology,” the new Freelander blends familiar British design cues with a more contemporary, technology-led focus.
It doffs a lid to its brand heritage via signature design elements borrowed from the original, including its distinctive silhouette and trademark rear-quarter window.
Land Rover’s long-established ‘castle body’ design language is evident in the exterior, with the Freelander 8 combining a solid, planted stance with a lighter upper cabin and generous glasshouse.
The interior looks particularly spacious, airy and light, with a six or seven-seat layout and a large-format Mini LED display dominating the cabin and bringing together vehicle data, navigation and real-time driving information.
Capability, technology and Australian arrival
While the original Freelander was a compact SUV, the Freelander 8 is reportedly closer to a LandCruiser Prado in size and comes equipped with a new Intelligent All-Terrain System (i-ATS) designed to automatically adapt to changing surfaces.With nine terrain modes, an electronic limited-slip differential, air suspension and a virtual centre diff locking function ensuring it will stay true to its land Rover heritage by having more off-road capability than the average soft-roader.
While the brand stopped short of releasing full details of its new model at Beijing, executives did confirm the display car was in production-intent form, giving the clearest indication yet of what Australian buyers can expect from the new-generation premium SUV.
Local media who attended the show have reported the new model will land in Australian showrooms sometime in 2027 with a range of powertrain options potentially including battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and range-extender (REEV).
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