- New Freelander SUV revealed
- Brand developed by JLR and Chery
- Concept 97 is successor to Land Rover Freelander first launched 1997
- Electric architecture supports range of powertrains
- Will go on sale in China first, Europe to follow
The iconic Freelander has been reborn for the electric age - but don’t call it a Land Rover!
If you’re a motorist of a certain vintage, you’ll be familiar with the original Freelander, a rugged off-roader that ran between 1997 and 2015 before being replaced by the Land Rover Discovery Sport.
The Freelander is now on the comeback trail… but it’ll be a very different car to the one you remember.
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(2nd gen Freelander, above)
What is the new Freelander?
Rewind the clock back to June 2024 and Jaguar Land Rover and Chinese mega manufacturer Chery announced a new collaboration.
The deal focused on the creation of electric vehicles for the Chinese market and, as part of that collab, the name ‘Freelander’ was launched as a separate brand in its own right.
Yin Tongyue, Chairman of Chery Group, said at the time: “Chery and JLR are forging an innovative collaboration model that epitomises our growth path for the future. The blend of Chery's advanced EV technology with the distinctive appeal of the Freelander brand will undoubtedly provide China and global consumers with a unique electric vehicle experience.”
This, the ‘Concept 97’, is the first Freelander model to be revealed.
What is the Freelander Concept 97?
While it’s definitely not a Land Rover, the Freelander Concept 97 is the spiritual successor to the Freelander from the late Nineties.
There are triangular windows at the rear, rounded surfaces and protective elements, which all pay homage to the original.
As you can probably imagine, the all-new Freelander will be underpinned by electric architecture, with scope for it to utilise either a fully electric or hybrid powertrain.
A low dashboard in the cabin offers better forward visibility while there are three rows of seats - in a 2+2+2 arrangement, making it a 6-seater.
It’ll also be available with a retractable cloth roof, just like what’s available with the current Land Rover Defender.
Freelander Design Hub Director Phil Simmons said: “Concept 97 is designed for the urban outdoors, retaining an off-road spirit while embracing city life. It celebrates freedom, individuality and joy.”
The first Freelander will go on sale in China first - but a full European launch has already been earmarked.
And let’s not forget that Chery has already made serious inroads into the UK leasing market with some of its other brands - not least Jaecoo and Omoda.
Watch this space!
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