Freelander Becomes Standalone Brand as 600 hp Hybrid SUV Heads to Europe
Freelander, a brand created jointly by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover, is returning to Britain and Europe. Its first model, the Freelander 8, is a large plug-in hybrid SUV with more than 600 hp of combined output.
The Freelander name is set to return to the car market, this time as a separate brand. It was created through a partnership between Chery and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), and it plans to come back to Britain and, with that, to Europe.
A phased rollout
The models will reach the market in several stages. First they will appear in the Middle East and North Africa. Right-hand-drive countries will follow, including Australia and New Zealand. Britain and the rest of Europe are planned for the third stage. The exact year of the brand's debut in Britain has not yet been announced. Models intended for European markets will be adapted to local requirements rather than simply carried over from China.
Freelander 8
The first model from the new brand is the Freelander 8, a luxury SUV that is more than 5 metres long and has a wheelbase exceeding 3 metres. The European version will use a plug-in hybrid system in which a 2.0-litre petrol engine works together with two electric motors. Total system output will exceed 441 kW (600 hp), and the car will have all-wheel drive.
The battery has a capacity of 34 kWh and should provide roughly 110 km of electric-only driving. Fast-charging power can reach up to 350 kW.
Relationship with Land Rover
Although the name is associated with a former Land Rover model, the new Freelander is an independent brand. JLR licenses the name and oversees the design, while Chery handles technical development and production in China. The brand aims to expand its market presence without competing directly with Range Rover and Defender.
