The Freelander 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has made its international debut with 550 miles of combined range and 671bhp.
Unveiled at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental hotel in Abu Dhabi, the launch highlighted the engineering behind the Freelander 8’s PHEV drivetrain and off-road systems.
By pairing a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with a 34.12kW lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, this latest Freelander offers an electric-only range of 68.3 miles. Despite riding on the all-new JLR-Chery 800V iMax platform, the EV-only figures still fall short of one of its main PHEV rivals, the best-selling Volvo XC60. The Swedish car can travel up to 124 miles on electric-only power, despite riding on Gothenburg’s almost-decade-old SPA underpinnings.
Yet unlike the strictly on-road Volvo, the new Freelander 8 boasts some serious off-road chops. The twin-motor, 617bhp powertrain packs 488lb ft of torque and comes with what the brand calls i-ATS, or its “Intelligent All-Terrain System”.
The system features nine drive modes, including Sand Mode, Smart Mode, and Expert Mode, to support the Freelander 8 across changing road surfaces and terrains. The vehicle has a 900mm wading depth, a 70% climb rate, and can pass an 800mm cross-axle test.
Unlike the previous Freelander, built by Land Rover from 1997 to 2015, the marque is now a standalone joint venture established by Land Rover’s parent company, JLR, and Chinese automotive giant, Chery.
This debut model, the 8, was designed in the UK by Land Rover and unveiled at the 2026 Beijing motor show. It will go on sale in the UK during the second half of 2027. Pricing has yet to be confirmed, but we do know that the Freelander 8 isn’t a compact SUV like the original.
Measuring 5.1 metres long, it’s 350mm longer than a Defender 110 without a spare wheel, and the Chery iMax platform can be adapted to accommodate multi-energy powertrains, including a range extender and an electric-only model alongside the PHEV. Air suspension and rear-locking differentials are also incorporated into the iMax architecture.
