There's less than a week left, and the price is still anyone's guess. On September 3, Freelander 8 — the first production model from the new brand born out of the Chery and Jaguar Land Rover joint venture — officially launches in China. Here's the catch: the 329,900 yuan (about $48,650) figure everyone's citing right now reflects temporary incentives, not a confirmed final base price.
Compare for yourself. When pre-orders opened on August 14, the five-seat Freelander 8 was priced from 339,900 yuan, and the six-seat Pro from 349,900 yuan. That's exactly why September 3 is a real test: will the brand hold onto that lower entry point, or will the discount evaporate along with the promotional window?
On the technical side, there's barely a surprise left — every card is already on the table. The EREV pairs a 1.5-liter gasoline generator with two all-wheel-drive electric motors producing a combined 610 kW — about 829 hp — and 813 Nm of torque. 0-100 km/h takes just 4.6 seconds. Seriously.
A 60.3 kWh CATL battery delivers up to 310 km of pure electric range on the CLTC cycle. And the 800-volt architecture with 6C charging support turns refueling into a formality: 20 to 80% in a claimed 12 minutes. Just don't compare that 310 km directly with European WLTP figures — CLTC traditionally adds extra kilometers that won't show up on the road.
At 5,118 mm long with a 3,040 mm wheelbase, Freelander 8 comes in five- or six-seat layouts. The equipment list includes dual-chamber air suspension, a front mechanical locking differential, and rear-wheel steering with up to 10 degrees of angle. All Chinese versions also get Huawei's Qiankun ADS 5.
Interest in the car ignited well before the official launch: within the first 48 hours of pre-orders opening, the automaker reported more than 10,000 reservations. That said, deposits from Chinese brands are typically refundable, so pre-order numbers aren't the same thing as future deliveries.
And China is only the beginning. Pre-production Freelander 8 units are already testing on UAE roads, with the Middle East confirmed as the first export market. So September 3 matters for more than just the price — it'll reveal the final Chinese configuration that overseas versions will later build on. Remember this date.
