- The Land Rover Freelander is back after more than a decade.
- It will be redesigned from the ground up and built through a joint venture with Chery.
- The new model will use an electrified powertrain, including a hybrid system and long-range configuration.
After more than a decade away, the Land Rover Freelander is back in a big way—this time in a completely redesigned form, both in design and engineering. Unlike its predecessor, this new model will not be built directly by Land Rover, but by CJLR, a joint venture formed with Chery in 2024.
The official debut is set for March 31, 2026, as confirmed by the joint venture’s social media channels, which also released the first teaser image. The image shows the front end up close, giving an initial idea of the SUV’s design direction.
What To Expect From The New Freelander
2013 Land Rover Freelander
Starting from the exterior, the teaser shows the front fascia on the right side, presenting a bold and boxy appearance. The headlights are housed in dark trim elements—most likely made of plastic—and feature a distinctive lighting signature.
Overall, the design leans towards a true off-road SUV, with upright proportions, short overhangs and a sturdy stance. In spirit, it seems more similar to the early Land Rover Discovery models. Previous reports suggested it would be quite large, measuring around 16.4 feet (5.0 meters) long, with some styling influences from the Jaecoo range.
Inside, details are still limited, but a six-seat configuration has been confirmed. Expect a premium cabin with high-quality materials and a technology-focused dashboard—perhaps featuring multiple screens.
From China to the World (But Not the US)
The new Freelander will be the first in a wider product range aimed at the Chinese domestic market and global buyers. It will be positioned as a “global NEV brand” (New Energy Vehicle), meaning it will not be limited to fully electric models but will also include hybrid variants with wider range and high performance.
The powertrain is expected to support both series-hybrid operation—where the gasoline engine acts as a generator—and parallel hybrid drive, which allows the vehicle to switch between electric, hybrid, and engine-powered modes.
Rumors suggest the car will use a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine developed by Ateco (a subsidiary of Chery), paired with dual electric motors—one on each axle—and batteries supplied by CATL. Overall, the new Freelander aims to combine Land Rover’s off-road heritage with modern electrified performance.
This story originally appeared on Motor1 Italia
Motorcycle Pickup1: Land Rover is bringing back the Freelander name in a big way. Together with Chery, these two car manufacturers are expected to be able to produce impressive modern off-roaders. Too bad we won’t be getting it in the US.
