The newly launched Chery Jaguar Land Rover Freelander 8 has seen an impressive start, with over 5,000 pre-orders placed within its first 12 hours of availability. The vehicle officially launched on the evening of September 3rd, with prices ranging from 289,900 to 379,900 yuan.
Design and Layout
The Freelander 8 inherits its design language from the Concept 97, featuring a rugged yet elegant exterior characterized by strong, clean lines that blend luxury with off-road capabilities. The SUV measures 5118mm (or 5185mm) in length, 2050mm in width, and 1898mm in height, with a substantial wheelbase of 3040mm. It offers flexible seating configurations, available as either a five-seater or a six-seater in a 2+2+2 layout.
Intelligent Cockpit
The intelligent cabin of the Freelander 8 is a result of deep collaboration between FREELANDER, Huawei, CATL, and Qualcomm. All models are equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8397 automotive-grade chip. The interior boasts a prominent 15.6-inch Mini LED central control screen, complemented by a 17.3-inch overhead screen for rear passengers.
Powertrain and Performance
Under the hood, the Freelander 8 comes standard with a 1.5T four-cylinder range-extender engine featuring Engine Active Noise Cancellation (ENC). This engine boasts a thermal efficiency of 45.79%, capable of generating 3.7 kWh of electricity per liter of 92-octane gasoline. The vehicle features a dual-motor four-wheel-drive system across all trims, delivering a combined power output of 610kW and a peak torque of 813 N·m, enabling a rapid 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 4.6 seconds.
A standout feature is the standard 250kW two-speed rear electric motor, unique in its class, providing a maximum wheel-end torque of 8000 N·m. This, combined with standard ±10° rear-wheel steering, keeps the turning radius under 5.15 meters. The vehicle also comes equipped with standard closed-loop dual-chamber air suspension, CCD adaptive variable damping shock absorbers, and a front mechanical limited-slip differential.
Battery and Charging
The Freelander 8 is powered by CATL’s Shenyao hybrid all-terrain specific battery, offering a 60.3kWh capacity for a CLTC pure electric range of 310km. It utilizes an 800V, 6C fast-charging platform, allowing the battery to charge from 20% to 80% in as little as 12 minutes.
The strong initial sales figures suggest a positive market reception for the new Freelander 8, highlighting consumer interest in its blend of advanced technology, robust performance, and flexible configuration options.
