- The Freelander 8 will initially be launched in three First Edition colors.
- JLR-Chery has also confirmed an autonomous parking function for the 8.
- The new rugged SUV will launch in multiple markets later this year.
Additional details have been announced for the new Freelander 8, unveiled earlier this year and set to go on sale soon, not only in China, but also in the UK, the Middle East, and Australia. While it follows a familiar recipe for rugged, boxy SUVs, it seems to be a compelling package.
Created through Jaguar Land Rover’s joint venture with Chery, the Freelander 8 will come in eight distinctive colors, three of them reserved for the special First Edition model. That trio consists of Dancing Silver and Lucent Lime, both with satin finishes, and Immersive Purple, a deep pearlescent shade that looks classy and fun.
Read: Freelanders Were Known For Cheap, Plasticky Interiors But Not Anymore
The rest of the palette includes Dancing Silver gloss, Boundless Blue, Brilliant Bronze, Daring Black, and Uplifting White.
Chinese Tech Fills The Interior
JLR-Chery had also released the first photos of the Freelander 8’s cabin, and it’s certainly far more modern than any JLR product currently sold in the West. A large 15.6-inch central infotainment screen is built into the dashboard, while down near the base of the windshield sits a slim, 46.3-inch display stretching across the full width of the car, known as the Panoramic Intelligent Display. The name lands a little close to the Panoramic iDrive setup in BMW’s new iX3 and i3, and so does the screen it’s attached to.
The 1.2-meter-wide (47.2-inch) 8K panel reportedly hits 1,000 nits, bright enough to stay legible whether the sun is glaring or the cabin is dark. The steering wheel has a slightly squared-off shape so the driver can actually see the readout, which pulls double duty as an instrument cluster and throws a separate screen to the passenger.
There also appear to be plenty of plush materials, including leather, Alcantara, and some real metal accents. A driver-monitoring camera can be spotted on the A-pillar, and there are dual wireless smartphone chargers up front. Perhaps the neatest touch is the physical toggles positioned beneath the screen, promising some tactility that is sadly missing from many new cars out of China. The infotainment itself was developed by Chery and runs on a Chinese software platform.
Drop It Off, Walk Away
An advanced new Super Intelligent Valet Parking (SIVP) system has also been confirmed for the Freelander 8. Paired with a smartphone app, it lets an owner leave the vehicle at a dedicated drop-off point in a parking lot, after which the SUV searches for a spot and parks itself autonomously. When the owner wants to head out, they can summon the car back to a pick-up point, much as Tesla owners can. According to Chery-JLR, the feature is intended for places such as hotels, offices, and shopping centers.
Curiously, the automaker notes this system will only be “available in selected international markets,” but has not specified which ones.
Still No Word On The Engine
While the Freelander 8 is racing toward its Chinese and global launch later this year, powertrain details have yet to be confirmed. Recent reports suggest the model will use a range-extender setup from JLR, likely pairing a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine with a 60.3 kWh battery pack. JLR CEO P.B. Balaji has also clarified that while Jaguar Land Rover is responsible for the design, the engineering, manufacturing, and sales will fall to Chery.
