Freelander brand launches inaugural model in China

Chery Jaguar Land Rover is accelerating its shift toward electrification with the Freelander 8, a range-extended electric SUV. It is the first production model under Freelander, a new energy vehicle brand jointly developed by Chery Jaguar Land Rover.

The Freelander 8 opened for presales on Aug 14 in Changshu, Jiangsu province. Presale prices for its six-seat versions range from 349,900 yuan ($51,900) to 429,900 yuan, while the five-seat version is available for preorder from 339,900 yuan.

The Freelander name traces back to an SUV first introduced in 1997. Under the new arrangement, Chery leads supply-chain integration and intelligent-vehicle development, while Jaguar Land Rover contributes design and brand expertise.

Wen Fei, CEO of Freelander, said the model draws on 78 years of luxury heritage and all-terrain expertise while incorporating the latest intelligent technologies. He added that Chinese and British teams had worked together to turn the concept into a production model.

The vehicle measures 5,118 millimeters in length, 2,050 mm in width and 1,898 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,040 mm.

The range-extended SUV is built on an 800-volt platform and is equipped with a 60.3-kilowatt-hour battery from the Chinese company CATL. It offers a pure-electric range of 310 kilometers under the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle.

Its dual-motor four-wheel-drive system delivers a combined output of 610 kilowatts, enabling the vehicle to accelerate from 0-100 kilometers per hour in 4.6 seconds.

The model is equipped with Huawei's ADS 5 driving assistance system, which supports navigation across a range of road conditions, as well as assisted parking.

It also features i-ATS, an intelligent all-terrain system that can automatically adjust vehicle settings to suit different conditions, the automaker said.

The launch comes as Chery Jaguar Land Rover steps up its NEV manufacturing capabilities. The company has invested 3 billion yuan in upgrades to its Changshu plant for NEV production and intelligent manufacturing.

The plant, Jaguar Land Rover's first full-scale vehicle manufacturing facility outside the United Kingdom, has an annual capacity of 200,000 vehicles and serves as the production base for the Freelander brand.

Freelander plans to build a six-model range over the next five years, covering battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and extended-range powertrains.