Freelander 8. Credit: Freelander
- The Freelander 8 is an extended-range all-terrain SUV that comes standard with Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 5 across the lineup.
- The vehicle goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and has a CLTC all-electric range of 310 km.
The Freelander brand, revived by the joint venture between Chery (HKEX: 9973) and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), has set a pre-sales price starting at 339,900 yuan ($50,080) for its first model, entering China’s fiercely competitive premium extended-range SUV market.
The Freelander 8 opened pre-sales in China on Friday in five versions. The entry-level large five-seat version starts at 339,900 yuan, while six-seat models begin with the Pro version at 349,900 yuan, followed by the Max at 379,900 yuan and the Max+ at 429,900 yuan.
The launch limited edition, capped at 1,000 units, is listed at 459,900 yuan, with a locked-order benefit price of 449,900 yuan.
The vehicle comes standard with Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 5 across the lineup and is among the world’s first to feature Qualcomm’s latest-generation Snapdragon 8397 automotive-grade chip, which delivers 320 TOPS of computing power. The chip’s NPU computing power is 12 times that of the previous-generation 8295, the brand said.
For perception hardware, the Freelander 8 carries an 896-channel LiDAR from Huawei that Freelander said can identify a 14-centimeter obstacle at up to 120 meters.
It also features Huawei’s in-cabin laser vision Limera solution, along with a dToF solid-state rear LiDAR.
For powertrain, all versions come standard with a 1.5T four-cylinder range extender with ENC active noise cancellation, with thermal efficiency of 45.79%.
The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system delivers a combined 610 kW (818 hp) and peak torque of 813 Nm, going from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds.
The battery comes from CATL (HKEX: 3750), a Shenxing Pro all-terrain-specific ternary lithium pack with a capacity of 60.3 kWh, providing a CLTC all-electric range of 310 km.
The Freelander 8 is built on an 800-volt 6C high-voltage range-extended platform, allowing charging from 20% to 80% in as little as 12 minutes.
Off-road hardware includes a 250 kW two-speed rear motor with maximum wheel-end torque of 8,000 Nm.
The vehicle comes standard with ±10-degree rear-wheel steering, giving it a turning radius of no more than 5.15 meters, and supports crab mode.
The chassis features standard closed dual-chamber air suspension and CCD continuously variable damping shock absorbers, paired with a front mechanical differential lock, a rear e-LSD and a virtual center lock, as well as an i-ATS intelligent all-terrain system tuned jointly with Huawei.
In wading mode, the Freelander 8’s suspension can automatically raise ground clearance by up to 270 mm, and issues a warning when the water line exceeds 800 mm.
The cabin uses a 2+2+2 six-seat layout with a 46.3-inch 8K far-field display, a 15.6-inch Mini LED center touchscreen and a 17.3-inch ceiling-mounted rear screen.
The second row has twin zero-gravity seats with heating, ventilation and 16-point hot stone massage.
The vehicle measures 5,118 mm (5,185 mm optional) long, 2,050 mm wide and 1,898 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,040 mm.
The pre-sales event was originally scheduled for August 10, but was pushed back four days as Typhoon Dolphin approached the coast of east China.
The first production Freelander 8 rolled off the line on July 30 at the Chery Jaguar Land Rover plant in Changshu, Jiangsu province.
Freelander was originally a classic model line under Jaguar Land Rover. It was elevated on March 31 into a standalone brand focused on new energy vehicles (NEVs), with plans to roll out six models over the next five years. The joint venture has added 3 billion yuan of investment at the Changshu plant to support that shift.
The first overseas version will be a left-hand-drive Middle East model, expected to go on sale between the end of this year and early next year.
Freelander upgraded to standalone brand, to release six EV models over next five years.
($1 = 6.7878 yuan)
