Chery-JLR Schedules September 3 Launch for Freelander 8 Extended-Range SUV
The joint venture between Chery and Jaguar Land Rover will officially introduce its first Freelander marque model, the Freelander 8 luxury extended-range electric SUV, during an event in Beijing on September 3.
- 329,900 yuan ($48,650)
- 610 kW (818 hp)
- 310 km
- 20% to 80% in 12 min
What Happened
Chery-JLR will formally launch the Freelander 8 luxury extended-range SUV on September 3 in Beijing. Following its initial pre-sale debut, promotional incentive pricing starts at 329,900 yuan ($48,650) for the entry Pro grade, alongside Max and Max+ trims priced at 359,900 yuan and 409,900 yuan. The joint venture logged over 10,000 refundable pre-orders within the opening 48 hours of order books opening.
The powertrain pairs a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder range extender with dual electric motors generating a combined 610 kW (818 hp) and 813 Nm of torque, achieving zero to 100 km/h acceleration in 4.6 seconds. An 800-volt 6C electrical architecture coupled with a 60.3 kWh CATL ternary lithium battery delivers a CLTC pure electric range of 310 km and allows 20% to 80% charging in 12 minutes.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8397 automotive processor delivering 12-fold NPU compute improvements
- Huawei Qiankun ADS 5 automated driving suite
- ±10-degree rear-wheel active steering and dual-chamber closed air suspension
- 15.6-inch Mini LED central infotainment screen paired with a 17.3-inch roof-mounted display
- Wheelbase of 3,040 mm across five-seat and six-seat interior configurations
The brand envisions rolling out six models across five years from its Changshu assembly facility in Jiangsu province. Initial exports of left-hand-drive editions for Middle East buyers are anticipated around the turn of the year.
Why this matters
The launch marks the commercial debut of JLR and Chery's revived Freelander badge as an independent NEV nameplate engineered in China. Incorporating Snapdragon 8397 cockpit computing and Huawei Qiankun ADS 5 driver assistance, the vehicle targets luxury three-row SUV buyers ahead of planned Middle East exports.
Terms in This Story
- Range extender
- An onboard internal combustion engine that acts as a dedicated generator to recharge the high-voltage battery without directly mechanical linkage to the driving wheels.
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