New Freelander brand confirmed for the UK

• The Freelander name is back and this time it’s a standalone brand
• Freelander is a joint venture between Jaguar Land Rover and Chery​
• The first model will be the Freelander 8
• This new brand is set to launch in the UAE by the end of this year before expanding across the Middle East, Noth Africa, Europe and eventually the UK
• No word yet on UK pricing or specifications

We knew Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) was teaming up with Chinese powerhouse Chery to bring the Freelander name back as a standalone brand, but until now we didn’t know whether the cars would be coming to the UK. It turns out they will, though we will have to wait our turn.

The new brand will first launch in the UAE and then expand across the Middle East and North Africa, prioritising left-hand drive markets first. It will then expand into Australia and New Zealand before arriving in Europe and eventually coming here. We have no confirmed date for when the first new Freelander will reach our shores, so we won’t be holding our breath as chances are it could be well into next year at the earliest.

The first model from the brand will be the Freelander 8, a large family SUV and a modern interpretation of the original Freelander model. There’s a clear nod to the original late 90s three-door  Freelander with its triangular rear window, while its boxy shape echoes the Defender’s chunky look. We expect the Freelander 8 to be pretty handy off-road, too, as it has undergone validation testing for features like Sand Mode in the Middle East, but it is unlikely to be as hardcore as the Defender.

Inside the minimalist interior has a similar vibe to the Jaguar Type 01 with its modern, uncluttered design. Key features include a panoramic screen like the one in BMW’s iX3 and a large central touch-screen powered which will likely be powered by software from Chery. We don’t know much else about the UK specifications, but given Chery’s experience with plug-in hybrid, range-extender and electric tech, we expect the Freelander 8 will be underpinned by at least one of these platforms.