Chery and JaguarLand Rover Unveil Freelander 8, Starting Pre-order at ¥339,900

The all-new mid-to-large-size SUV Freelander 8 — co-developed by Chery Automobile and JaguarLand Rover — has officially launched pre-orders in China. The model is offered in five trim levels: the entry-level 'Large Five-Seat' variant starts at ¥339,900 (approx. $50,000), while the top-tier First Edition limited model carries a recommended retail price of ¥459,900 ($67,600), available at a limited-time promotional price of ¥449,900 ($66,200).

According to official data, pricing for other trims is as follows: Max+ at ¥429,900, Max at ¥379,900, and Pro at ¥349,900. Notably, all variants are built on an 800V high-voltage extended-range platform, equipped with CATL Freevoy ternary lithium batteries (60.3 kWh capacity) delivering a CLTC all-electric range of 310 km. The vehicle also supports 6C ultra-fast charging, enabling a charge from 20% to 80% in just 12 minutes.

In terms of intelligent hardware, Freelander 8 ranks among the world's first production vehicles powered by the automotive-grade Qualcomm Snapdragon 8397 chip, and comes standard with the HUAWEI Qiankun ADS 5 system. Its exterior design retains the boxy silhouette of the Concept 97 concept car, featuring a closed-off front grille and rectangular LED headlamps. Three exclusive paint colors — 'Thermal Lemon Gold', 'Flowing Silver Gray', and 'Twilight Purple' — were developed under the direction of Global Design Director Phil Simmons.

Inside, the cabin features a 46.3-inch far-field projection display and a 15.6-inch LED central infotainment screen. Physical controls adopt the 'Paris Nailhead' texture, while dual floating crystal rotary knobs are hand-carved from K9-grade optical crystal — each knob containing 144 precisely cut facets. Second-row seats feature dual zero-gravity functionality with heating, ventilation, massage, and extendable leg rests, plus fold-out small tables and a built-in refrigerator. Rear passengers enjoy an independent entertainment screen, while the third row includes cup holders and adjustable seat angles.

The powertrain combines a 1.5T four-cylinder range extender with dual-motor AWD, generating a maximum combined output of 610 kW (818 hp) and peak torque of 813 N·m, enabling 0–100 km/h acceleration in just 4.6 seconds. The rear axle houses a 250 kW two-speed motor, delivering up to 8,000 N·m of wheel-end torque. The vehicle also integrates Chery and Huawei's jointly developed i-ATS intelligent all-terrain system — featuring front, center, and rear electronic differential locks — and comes standard with ±10° rear-wheel steering, enabling 'crab walk' mode. Braking is handled by six-piston fixed calipers paired with 404 mm ventilated discs, achieving a shortest 100 km/h-to-zero stopping distance of 35.7 meters.