LAND ROVER

Freelander 97 Concept: made in china

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and China's Chery announced plans to jointly develop a new range of electrified vehicles for their joint venture, CJLR, back in 2024. These cars will be sold under the new Freelander brand, which is the name Land Rover has previously used for its compact SUV. Finally, today the first new Freelander was presented, but still in concept form.

It is an electric 4x4 model Freelander 97, with the number 97 in the name paying tribute to the year of release of the first Land Rover Freelander (which appeared in 1997).

The Freelander 97 also references the design of its Land Rover namesake with its distinctive diagonal C-pillar, which is reminiscent of the detachable hardtop of the original short-wheelbase car.

According to previous announcements, this first new Freelander should be launched on the market in the second half of 2026.

The brand has announced plans to introduce a new model every six months for the next five years. Each will be offered with a choice of EV, REx or PHEV powertrains.

The partnership leverages the brands’ individual strengths, leveraging Chery’s manufacturing (in Changshu) and development resources, along with Land Rover’s design capabilities. All vehicles will be SUVs that will use Chery’s previously announced vehicle architecture. The platform is designed to support both fully electric, extended-range powertrains and plug-in hybrids, while also enabling ultra-fast charging.

The first model “reflects the original spirit of the Freelander, but has been modernized to appeal to discerning, tech-savvy Chinese consumers,” Chery said.

The Freelander range will first launch in China, with “potential for global expansion,” including Europe.

The Freelander will sit in a different market segment from JLR’s imported top-of-the-line models in the country, such as the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Defender.

JLR has announced that the Freelander will be sold through a network of its own dedicated dealerships run by Chery.

by Autonews