Land Rover Freelander Returns as Its Own Brand With Electric Drive and Global Plans

The partnership between Jaguar Land Rover and Chery revitalizes the Freelander brand through a joint venture in China, giving it its own identity and product range as a standalone label with its own distribution network. The first sight of this restored brand comes in the form of Concept 97, a reference to the original model that debuted in 1997. Production versions will soon begin rolling off the shared manufacturing floor in Changshu, where previous Land Rover models were produced.

Designers drew inspiration from the old Freelander before tweaking it to fit modern tastes. The concept car itself isn’t too bad, with a rough, boxy appearance that combines classic headlight forms and a split rear side window. There’s also a taller stance and lots of sleek lines, which should help with both city driving and more rugged adventures. It’s quite cool to notice that instead of the normal logo, the front end features a big ‘FREELANDER’ in block letters. The exhibition car’s rear doors swing out from the back, but who knows what changes will be made in the actual vehicles. Yes, this monster is enormous, with a length of more than 200 inches, making it a contender in the larger SUV class and accommodating a couple of rows of seats.





Inside the concept, you can fit six adults in various configurations, and it seems quite roomy. You have a super-wide digital panel running across the dashboard, as well as a massive center control screen. Drivers get a variety of physical buttons on the steering wheel, as well as two glass knobs on the console that allow them to make common changes without having to navigate menus. The seating in the back wraps around you for further comfort, though some of the show car antics may not be included in production models.


Engineers developed it on an 800 volt platform, allowing you to mix and match different power solutions right out of the box. You can choose a pure electric model, a plug-in hybrid, or a system in which a small gasoline engine generates power and extends your driving range. One electric version generates a whopping 554 horsepower from no less than three motors. The batteries receive specific underbody protection and coatings to help them withstand tough terrain, while yet allowing you to zip in and out of charging sessions and get back on the road quickly.


Production begins at the Changshu factory, with China leading the way, followed by the Middle East and Europe. They’ll make certain particular changes to vehicles so they’re right at home in each market, rather than delivering the same vehicle all over the world from a single facility. The idea is to bring six models to market over the next five years, with a new one coming out every six months. According to executives, the goal is to provide drivers with the options they desire from the start.