Freelander 8 Is Back, Bigger Than a Defender and Going Global

The Freelander name didn’t sit around for long. Right after the concept reveal, the production version showed up in Beijing as the Freelander 8. It’s not limited to one market either. They’re going global, with both left- and right-hand drive ready from the start.

It rides on a new in-house iMAX platform that supports full EV, range-extender, and plug-in hybrid setups. And it’s big. Longer than a Defender 110, plus wider and taller too. This is clearly aimed at the full-size SUV space.

Design-wise, they didn’t drift far from the Concept 97, which is a smart move. Up front, you get those square headlights that look a bit unusual but work well here—no traditional grille, which gives it a clean EV-style face. Instead, there are small black intakes on the bumper. There’s also a LiDAR unit sitting above the windshield, hinting at some serious driver assistance tech.

The official photos show it keeps a lot of the concept’s attitude. You’ve got chunky black wheel arches, rugged side skirts, and a set of black and silver wheels that actually look pretty cool. Roof rails are there too. One thing that didn’t make it? The rear suicide doors from the concept. Now it’s just standard doors. 

Around the back, it’s pretty clean and simple. Small taillights, a black roof spoiler, and some dark trim on the bumper. 

Inside is still a bit of a mystery. No official photos yet, but they’re promising the largest “Mini LED integrated screen” in the segment. Sounds like it’ll be similar to the full-width display from the concept. They’re also talking about “zero-gravity” front seats, which usually means a big focus on comfort.

Specs are still under wraps, but a few key details are out. Every version will use an 800-volt system, which is a big deal for charging and performance. The EV models should support charging speeds up to 350 kW, so in the right conditions, they should charge fast.

This is just the start, too. The new Freelander brand has six models planned over the next five years. Most of them will go global. The US, though, doesn’t appear to be on the list, at least for now.