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.

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.

Spy Shots: Chery-JLR Freelander SUV for China

Freelander is a new brand under Chery-JLR. The Chinese name is 神行者 (Shén Xíngzhě). Freelander will manufacture various SUVs based on Chery platforms.

The spy shots show a boxy off-road-style SUV during winter tests in Northern… pic.twitter.com/IduwHRG5vw

— Tycho de Feijter (@TychodeFeijter) February 1, 2026

Spy photographers have caught the redesigned Range Rover Velar on multiple occasions, but now they’ve gotten a glimpse inside too. This reveals a number of changes and things aren’t exactly looking luxurious.

Drivers sit behind a new two-spoke steering wheel, which features a horizontal bar decked out in digital buttons. More notably, traditional control stalks have been replaced by stubby, wing-like appendages.

More: Forget Jaguar, Land Rover Might Have The Coolest New EV

Elsewhere, we can see a flat dashboard with a freestanding digital instrument cluster. It looks relatively small compared to the 12.3-inch displays found in many vehicles.

Further below, we can see what appears to be a full-width air vent. It’s joined by a new infotainment system, which features a squared off display. The bottom has a band dedicated to climate controls and shortcuts, suggesting physical switchgear will be kept to a minimum.

None of this looks particularly luxurious, but the cabin is largely covered by camouflage. As a result, there could be Windsor leather and wood trim hiding out of sight.

SHProshots

Putting the interior aside, the Velar adopts a sleek new design that puts an emphasis on aerodynamics. Starting up front, there’s a fully enclosed grille that is flanked by slender headlights. They’re joined by a clamshell hood and a wide lower intake.

The former meets a rakish windscreen, which flows into an angular roof. While there had been speculation about the model potentially eschewing a rear window like the Polestar 4, a gap in the disguise clearly shows one.

That’s a good call and so is the streamlined bodywork and aerodynamically optimized wheels. Rounding out the highlights are flush-mounted door handles, a rear charging port, and a rounded rump.

The Velar will ride on the electrified modular architecture and be built at the company’s Halewood plant in the United Kingdom. Land Rover has been coy on specifications, but the model could echo the Range Rover EV, which will have a 117 kWh battery pack as well as a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing 542 hp (404 kW / 550 PS) and 627 lb-ft (849 Nm) of torque.

SHProshots

Spy photographers recently snapped the facelifted Range Rover and now they’ve gotten a glimpse of the second-generation Velar. It will be a radical departure as the model becomes even sleeker and adopts a fully electric powertrain.

The redesigned crossover is expected to debut later this year, but it’s still covered in heavy camouflage. This hides a number of key details, but we can expect a rounded front end with a fully enclosed grille that is flanked by slender headlights. They’re joined by a clamshell hood and a wide lower intake.

More: Land Rover’s New Velar Trades V8 Roar For Electric Muscle

The profile immediately stands out as the Velar has a rakish windscreen that flows into a steeply sloping roof. This results in a far more dynamic design, but it looks like this could come at the expense of cargo space and rear seat headroom.

SHProshots

A closer inspection reveals a rear-mounted charging port as well as flush-mounted door handles. They’re joined by streamlined bodywork, which is disguised by subtle bumps.

The rear end is the most interesting angle as we can see a distinctive liftgate with an upright tail. We can also get a glimpse of a roof-mounted camera, which could indicate the Velar will eschew a rear window. That remains to be seen, but Polestar led the way and Jaguar is following suit.

While we’re hopeful that a rear window will be included, the model will have a spoiler and wraparound taillights. They’re accompanied by a minimalist bumper, which features horizontal reflectors.

What Will Power The New Velar?

SHProshots

Land Rover has primarily been focused on promoting the Range Rover Electric, so little is known about the Velar at this point. However, the two models could have a lot in common.

If that’s the case, the Velar could have a 117 kWh battery pack as well as a dual-motor all-wheel drive system that produces around 542 hp (404 kW / 550 PS) and 627 lb-ft (849 Nm) of torque. That being said, we wouldn’t be surprised if there were multiple configurations on the Velar.

While there could be some similarities between the two models, it’s important to note the Velar will ride on the brand’s new electrified modular architecture (EMA). It will be built at the company’s Halewood plant and be a major test to see if Land Rover fans are ready to go electric.

SHProshots