Freelander 8 Makes Its International Debut in the UAE With 617 hp Hybrid Power
The first model from the reborn Freelander brand, a JLR and Chery joint venture, was unveiled in Abu Dhabi with Middle East-specific features.
The Freelander name is back, but not as you remember it. Revealed at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi on 29 September 2026, the Freelander 8 is the first model from a new standalone brand created by JLR and Chery. The UAE is the brand’s first market outside China.
JLR owns the name and leads design, while Chery provides the electrified technology and supply chain. The cars are built at the Chery Jaguar Land Rover plant in Changshu, China.
Powertrain
- 2.0-litre turbocharged hybrid engine with two electric motors
- 34.12 kWh LFP battery
- 460 kW (about 617 hp) and 662 Nm, all-wheel drive
- Up to 110 km of electric-only range and up to 886 km total range
Built for the desert
The Freelander 8 is a big machine at 5,118 mm long and 2,050 mm wide, with 266 mm of ground clearance. Its Intelligent All-Terrain System offers nine drive modes, and Middle East models add a dedicated Sand Mode. Dual-chamber air suspension, a 900 mm wading depth and a claimed 70% climbing gradient underline its off-road ambitions.
Regional touches
Inside, a 46.3-inch 8K display stretches across the dashboard. Middle East cars also gain rapid cabin cooling and an exclusive Qibla Compass feature that shows the direction of Makkah, prayer times and the Hijri calendar.
Where to buy
Al Tayer Motors will represent the brand in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, and Premier Motors in Abu Dhabi. Pricing, trims and delivery dates are still to be announced.
