• Freelander returns as a standalone electrified brand under JLR and Chery.
  • Teaser and spy shots reveal pixel-style LED headlights and a boxy SUV design.
  • A global rollout is planned following the first model’s initial launch in China.

Update: So much for waiting on the official reveal. The first proper look at Land Rover’s newly spun-off Freelander brand has arrived early, thanks to a set of crash test images from China that show far more than intended just days before the March 31 debut.

The Freelander-badged SUV appears significantly larger than its Land Rover predecessor, adopting a more upright, squared-off stance. Visually, it sits somewhere between a Defender and a Discovery, with boxy headlights featuring modern LED graphics, a tall rear end, thick plastic cladding, and Freelander lettering pressed into the bodywork.

Here’s The New Freelander Before You’re Supposed To See It

A look inside reveals a tech-heavy cabin, headlined by what appears to be a pillar-to-pillar display stretching across the base of the windscreen. It is paired with a large, freestanding infotainment screen. Beyond the tech, the electrified SUV seems to offer a three-row, six-seat configuration, trimmed in light blue leather upholstery.

The original story follows below.

Photos Weibo

The Freelander name is making an unexpected return, though not in the way many would have predicted just a few years ago. Jaguar Land Rover’s Chinese joint venture with Chery has confirmed that the new Freelander will debut on March 31. This time, the badge does not belong to Land Rover at all, instead re-emerging as a standalone electrified brand with no traditional ties to its former parent.

The first teaser focuses on the rectangular headlights, featuring pixel-style LED graphics. We can also spot an upright nose and hints of fender extensions, paired with gray plastic cladding on the front bumper.

More: Jaguar Land Rover’s Design Boss Is Out After Two Decades With No Successor Named

The upright lines across the front seem to nod to the original design. The Land Rover Freelander first arrived in 1997, followed by a second generation in 2006 that stayed on sale until 2015, when it was ultimately phased out in favor of the Discovery Sport.

Overall, the new model leans heavily on the Land Rover Defender’s design playbook, much like a growing number of SUVs coming out of China. Still, with JLR’s UK studio leading the design, this one at least has a legitimate claim to the look.

Earlier spy shots have already given away much of the Freelander’s stance, revealing a boxy silhouette that leans heavily into SUV convention. It is expected to feature a three-row layout, with an overall length stretching beyond 5,100 mm (200.8 inches), placing it firmly in large family hauler territory.

Under the skin, the SUV is expected to ride on Chery’s modular architecture. The platform is designed to support both fully electric and range-extender powertrains, while also enabling ultra-fast charging,

More: Jaguar Built Its Last Gas Car, Now It Might Build China’s Next Best-Seller

Production of the new model will be centralized at the CJLR plant in Changshu, China. The facility is currently undergoing a ¥3 billion ($436 million) investment as it transitions away from the aging Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque, preparing instead for the upcoming Freelander lineup.

The Chinese joint venture has also begun scaling up its workforce, recently sharing a recruitment poster on social media that lists more than 30 open positions across its Shanghai and Suzhou operations. The recruitment drive confirms that JLR and Chery are building an entirely new corporate infrastructure. While the new brand will initially launch in China, a wider global rollout is planned for the near future.

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