The widely anticipated Freelander 8 has been shown off, adding some welcome added detail to the international specifications for cars that are destined to hit the middle east market first. It’ll be produced at the Chery Jaguar Land Rover factory in Changshu.
Featuring a plug-in hybrid powertrain and all-wheel drive, the mud-friendly Freelander 8 will boast a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine paired with a 34kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery that will make it good for around 68 miles of electric-only range. The Freelander 8 will also come as a fully electric version in due course; a range-extender version is also anticipated.
Naturally, Chery’s collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover means the Freelander 8 has some healthy off-road credentials. These centre around an Intelligent All-Terrain System (i-ATS), which delivers a host of options for drivers to choose from depending on their surroundings.
The Freelander 8 will be capable of climbing gradients of up to 70%. A Sand mode will be of obvious interest to buyers in the middle east, but other options include Rock, Water and Expert settings that can handle all sorts. There’s also a wading capability of up to 30cm once the Water mode has been selected.
Dual-chamber air suspension means the Freelander 8 offers variable damping, which can be adjusted to match its surroundings and I was keen to see if it lived up to my expectations.
I got to try the Freelander 8 in a test area in Wuhu, where the chunky off roader didn’t quite make it as far as mud, but did have a chance to demonstrate its prowess at getting up and down a very steep ramp in heavy rain. I then got to take it through a water trough where it showcased that impressive wading capability. It was also deceptively nimble over simulated rocky terrain.
Inside, the Freelander 8 packs an imposing cockpit layout and, for the middle east at any rate, three rows and six seats. From what we’ve experienced, there’s plenty of legroom for all. It’s not short on tech either, with a 15.6in central infotainment screen on the dashboard supplemented by a truly enormous 46.3in, 8K LED display that runs to almost the whole width of the windscreen. The latter is used to display a wealth of settings, including how the i-ATS is performing when it’s activated.
Fans of quality in-car audio will be pleased to hear there’s a 23-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system on offer, while comfort levels look to be solid with massage functionality being offered for the second row of seats as well as up front.
Naturally, the Freelander 8 will pack plenty of driver convenience features, including level 2 driver assistance and, for some markets, a Super Intelligent Valet Parking (SIVP) option. This effectively lets an owner summon their car from a parking space in ‘meet and greet’ fashion as well as getting it tucked into a tight space without being behind the wheel.
The Freelander 8 will hit other markets, including Australia and New Zealand before it arrives in the UK although, interestingly, there was no mention of a launch for the US market during the extravagant showcase event near Chery’s HQ. Watch this space perhaps?
