New FREELANDER 8 Launched In UAE: 617hp Hybrid SUV From JLR & Chery

The FREELANDER name is officially back, but not quite as many Land Rover fans may remember. FREELANDER has returned as a standalone automotive brand jointly developed by JLR and Chery, and the UAE has become its first international market.

The new FREELANDER 8 was presented in international left-hand-drive form at the brand’s global launch at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi on 29 September 2026. Positioned as a premium mid-to-large SUV, it combines British-led design with Chinese electrified technology, a powerful hybrid system and serious all-terrain hardware.

Is The New FREELANDER Connected To Land Rover?

Yes, but the FREELANDER 8 is not being sold as a Land Rover. The Freelander name originally belonged to Land Rover, with the SUV produced between 1997 and 2015 before the Discovery Sport succeeded it. JLR later revived FREELANDER through its long-running joint venture with Chery.

JLR owns the FREELANDER brand and leads its design through a dedicated FREELANDER Design Hub, while Chery contributes advanced electrified vehicle technology and global supply-chain capabilities. The new brand operates independently from both JLR’s current House of Brands and Chery’s existing vehicle range.

Production takes place at the Chery Jaguar Land Rover manufacturing facility in Changshu, China, where vehicles for international markets are also being built.

FREELANDER 8 Hybrid Powertrain

For the Middle East, the FREELANDER 8 uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged dedicated hybrid engine paired with a 34.12kWh LFP battery and dual electric motors. The system sends power to all four wheels and produces up to 460kW (around 617hp) and 662Nm of torque.

The SUV offers an electric-only range of up to 110km on the combined cycle. With a full battery and fuel tank, the claimed total range increases to 886km.

This setup gives the FREELANDER 8 enough electric range to cover many everyday journeys while retaining the long-distance flexibility expected from a large SUV.

Serious Off-Road Hardware

FREELANDER is positioning the 8 as more than a road-focused premium SUV. Its Intelligent All-Terrain System (i-ATS) offers nine driving modes and works with a virtual central differential lock and rear electronic limited-slip differential to manage traction across different surfaces.

The Middle East model also receives a dedicated Sand Mode, an important addition for UAE driving conditions.

Dual-chamber air suspension is paired with Continuously Controlled Damping, while maximum ground clearance reaches 266mm. FREELANDER says the SUV can climb a 70% gradient, negotiate an 800mm cross-axle test and wade through water up to 900mm deep.

The FREELANDER 8 has also undergone extensive global validation. More than 1,000 test vehicles have been used, including over 200 dedicated to all-terrain durability testing covering 2.15 million kilometres.

FREELANDER 8 Design & Dimensions

The FREELANDER 8 adopts a boxy and upright SUV design featuring what the brand calls its Castle-Style Body. Key exterior elements include signature interlocking headlights, a wide horizontal front fascia, a tall bonnet and strong squared-off proportions.

At 5,118mm long, 2,050mm wide and 1,926mm tall, the FREELANDER 8 sits firmly in the mid-to-large SUV category. Higher-specification versions can also be equipped with 22-inch wheels.

Its styling combines familiar premium off-road SUV proportions with design details intended to establish a distinct identity for the revived FREELANDER brand.

Premium & Tech-Focused Interior

Inside, the FREELANDER 8 combines a technology-heavy cabin with physical controls for frequently used functions. A major highlight is the 46.3-inch ultra-wide 8K display, stretching roughly 1.2 metres across the dashboard. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8295P powers the intelligent cabin.

FREELANDER has retained physical controls for functions including climate settings, seat heating and ventilation, camera views and all-terrain modes. The front seats also use a raised Commander seating position designed to give occupants better outward visibility.

Selected markets will also receive Super Intelligent Valet Parking, which can search for a parking space and park the vehicle. Remote parking and vehicle-summon functions are also part of the technology package.

Built For The Middle East

Several features have been developed specifically for the region. These include rapid cabin cooling, the dedicated Sand Mode and a Middle East-exclusive Qibla Compass. The system can display the direction of Makkah, prayer times, the distance to the Kaaba and the Hijri calendar.

Choosing the UAE as FREELANDER’s first international market also highlights the Middle East’s importance to the new brand. Its international expansion will initially focus on other left-hand-drive markets across the Middle East and North Africa before moving into right-hand-drive markets and eventually Europe.

FREELANDER 8 UAE Price & Availability

FREELANDER has appointed Al Tayer Motors as its dealer partner for Dubai and the Northern Emirates, while Premier Motors will represent the brand in Abu Dhabi.

UAE customers can already register their interest in the FREELANDER 8. However, official UAE pricing, trim levels, the full retail launch date and first customer delivery timings have not yet been announced.

The arrival of the FREELANDER 8 therefore represents more than the return of a familiar name. It marks the beginning of a new JLR-Chery brand, combining JLR-led design and Freelander heritage with Chery’s electrified technology.

With the UAE chosen as the starting point for its international expansion, the 617hp FREELANDER 8 could become an interesting new contender in the country’s increasingly competitive premium electrified SUV market.

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