The Freelander 8 from Chery Jaguar Land Rover has officially entered the Guinness World Records after climbing to an altitude of 6,002.33 meters in China’s Xizang region, setting a new record for the highest altitude reached by a hybrid vehicle.
The record-breaking climb took place in August, while the achievement was officially announced in September, shortly after the SUV went on sale in China. The UAE is expected to become the first international market to receive the Freelander 8 outside its home market.
A New High-Altitude Record
The Freelander 8 beat the previous record of 5,980.05 meters, set by the Fangchengbao Bao 5 in July 2024, by 22.28 meters.
To reach the record altitude, the SUV covered a route of around 1,480 meters with a vertical climb of 200 meters, tackling loose gravel, rocks, and unpaved terrain along the way.
Conditions at this altitude are especially demanding for any vehicle. At around 6,000 meters above sea level, atmospheric pressure drops to roughly 47.2 kPa, while available oxygen falls to less than half of what is found at sea level.
The Freelander 8 uses an extended-range electric powertrain, combining a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors and an all-wheel-drive system. The gasoline engine mainly works as a generator to supply electricity to the battery and electric motors.
Combined output is rated at 610 kW, or around 818 horsepower. The front electric motor produces 483 horsepower, while the rear motor adds another 335 horsepower.
According to Chery Jaguar Land Rover, the gasoline engine was still able to deliver around 80 percent of its rated power generation capacity during the high-altitude climb.
The rear electric drive unit also uses a two-speed reduction gearbox. In first gear, the system provides a 1.5:1 torque multiplication ratio, helping deliver the low-speed pulling power needed on steep terrain. The company claims an equivalent wheel torque figure of up to 8,000 Nm.
The Freelander 8 is built around a unibody structure and measures 5,118 mm in length, with a wheelbase of 3,040 mm.
It also comes equipped with air suspension and a Continuous Damping Control system. Chery Jaguar Land Rover says the vehicle completed the climb without suffering structural damage, although the company has not released detailed post-run inspection results or confirmed the type of tires used during the attempt.
Power comes from a 60.33 kWh CATL Freevoy NMC battery paired with an 800-volt electrical architecture.
The SUV can also be equipped with Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 5 driver assistance system, which uses a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor and offers Level 2 driving assistance features.
Production takes place at the Chery Jaguar Land Rover factory in Changshu, Jiangsu Province, China.
During its launch period, the Freelander 8 is priced between 289,900 and 379,900 yuan, equivalent to approximately AED 150,600 to AED 197,200.
