The New Freelander SUV Is Now Part Chinese With JLR And Chery Partnership

Freelander returns as a new electric SUV brand under Land Rover, built with Chery for China first. With retro styling and modern tech, a global and possible India launch could follow.

The Freelander is based on a new 800V architecture.

Source : Somnath Chatterjee

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The Freelander was the entry-level Land Rover many years ago, and now the name is back, but as a new brand in itself. The Freelander brand will now debut many new electric SUVs, starting with this new car, which has retro styling elements from the original model.

This SUV, for now, is intended for China, a market that is huge and the biggest for carmakers. However, having a partnership is the way to go over there. Hence, the new Freelander concept is actually Chinese too, with the partnership with Chery, a name you might have heard thanks to the agreement with JSW Motors in India.

Freelander SUV: Platform, Powertrain And Design Details

The Freelander is based on a new 800V architecture and supports electric as well as plug-in hybrid powertrains. 

The design is retro and gets unique rear doors, while overall styling is similar to the first Freelander. However, those rear doors won’t make it to production.

The “Concept 97” name refers to the year when the Freelander was first unveiled.

Freelander SUV: Global Plans And Future Possibilities

While China is the primary market for which this has been developed, a production version for other global markets is expected later. Hence, an India launch could happen too.

It is not new for legacy brands to partner with emerging Chinese giants to enter the China market, which is one of the most lucrative. With Freelander, this marks a new wave of electrified SUVs within the Land Rover range.

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