Freelander 8, the all-terrain vehicle as always now is Chinese

The Land Rover Freelander was a very popular SUV in Europe, manufactured between 1997 and 2015 in the English town of Solihull, on the outskirts of Birmingham. The Chinese automotive giant Chery—parent company of Omoda, Jaecco and Ebro—has reached an agreement with Jaguar-Land Rover to turn Freelander into a new brand of large, luxury SUVs, with the goal of making a place for itself in the Chinese and European market.

The strategy of the Chinese giant is not new: to take advantage of the trade name and the legacy of a well-known model, to use it with Chinese mechanics, materials, and technology. The new Freelander 8 is the first SUV that Chery will manufacture in China, with its own platform, engines, and technological and mechanical elements. In fact, this Freelander 8 uses a plug-in hybrid propulsion system that provides a total power of 620 hp and a range in fully electric mode of more than 100 kilometers.

The new Freelander 8 also aims to ensure off-road capabilities and skills thanks to nine different driving modes and electronic specifications that allow the vehicle to be adapted to terrain conditions. In addition, this all-terrain vehicle uses a pneumatic suspension system and a ground clearance of 26.6 centimeters, which allow it to overcome obstacles or cross rivers and streams with low flow.

A recognizable aesthetic

If the Freelander 8 is a vehicle developed and manufactured in China with its own mechanics and technology, it is worth noting that aesthetically it does not differ much from the original model. The agreement between Chery and Land Rover has enabled the design of the Freelander 8 to carry the stamp of British designers, which has allowed the essence and appearance of the legendary off-roader to be maintained.

The interiors of this all-terrain vehicle also maintain the high standards of demand and perfection of Land Rover models, thanks to an ergonomic and rational design, with the presence of technological elements such as a 46-inch panoramic central screen that runs across the entire front of the cabin, which serves as the instrument cluster and emits various warnings. The main screen uses a high-resolution 8K system and allows for the management of the entire infotainment system and the car's driving aids, which includes interesting features such as an innovative remote parking system.

This remote-assisted parking system makes it easy to maneuver the car into tight spaces without stress, and it is a particularly relevant feature in a car that is 5.1 meters long and over 2 meters wide, which might not easily fit into most shopping center parking spaces.

Finally, this Freelander 8 also aims to offer three rows of seats and seven spaces inside, and seats with massage, ventilation, and heating functions. It will still be necessary to wait a few months to see the first units of the Freelander 8 in Europe, at a price yet to be confirmed, but which will be higher than the 50,000 euros exchange rate that Chery asks for the model in China.