- New Freelander expected to ride on Chery’s hybrid T1X platform architecture.
- Freelander returns as a standalone sub-brand in China under a new structure.
- Hybrid and all-electric versions of the off-roader will be offered at launch.
Jaguar Land Rover is bringing back a familiar name, though this time it arrives with a very different brief and badge. The nameplate is set to return as a boxy, off-road-focused SUV developed alongside Chery under a newly formed Freelander sub-brand, and while the official reveal is still pending, a fresh batch of detailed renderings based on leaked crash-test photos offers an early look at what’s coming.
Up until last week, sightings of the new Freelander were limited to heavily camouflaged prototypes that kept most of the design under wraps. That changed when a blurry teaser image surfaced, followed by photos of the Freelander undergoing crash testing, giving us a clearer sense of its shape and proportions.
Read: The Freelander’s Back As Its Own Brand And It’s Launching Soon
Based on these images, Sugar Design has created these renderings for the new model. It doesn’t look like anything else in JLR’s current model range, but that’s certainly not a bad thing. Pictured next to an original Freelander, it’s obvious that the carmaker’s design team has looked carefully at the past and tried to bring those classic looks into the modern era.
A Freelander With A Twist
Sugar Design / Instagram
No doubt, the most striking element of the front fascia is the squared headlights, each framed by LED daytime running lights. A large Freelander script stretches between them, while a blacked-out bumper anchors the lower section. The absence of a traditional grille towards the top of the fascia is a little weird, but overall, the new Freelander’s front looks mostly inoffensive.
Freelander SUV crash test photos (Weibo).
The sides could court some controversy. As with the original Freelander, this new one has an angled C-pillar, black arches, and sits very high. As for the rear, it includes a pair of minuscule taillights and huge Freelander badging on the tailgate.
Jaguar Land Rover plans to relaunch Freelander as a standalone sub-brand in China, with both fully electric and hybrid variants on the table. Key specifications remain under wraps, though hybrid versions are expected to ride on Chery’s T1X platform, already underpinning several models from Jaecoo, Omoda, and Chery in global markets.
