If you grew up in the late ’90s, the Freelander was the entry point to the Land Rover life. It was rugged, boxy, and didn’t require a Range Rover-sized bank account. After a decade-long hiatus, the nameplate is making a massive comeback—not just as a model, but as a standalone premium EV brand. Unveiled this week in Shanghai, the Concept 97 is a high-tech homage to the 1997 original, blending British design soul with a powerhouse of Chinese tech.
The “97” isn’t just a retro label; the design pulls direct threads from the first generation, like the iconic triangular rear window and a bold, rounded silhouette. But under that skin, it’s all 2026. This isn’t a parts-bin special—it’s a collaborative beast featuring a CATL “Freevoy” battery (built for off-road durability), Huawei’s Qiankun intelligent driving system, and a Qualcomm-powered digital cockpit. It even features a retractable cloth roof, giving you that open-air adventure vibe without the leaks of the old-school soft tops.
Production is slated to kick off at the end of 2026, marking the start of a six-model blitz over the next five years.
