There was a time when a Freelander meant sensible family motoring, muddy boots and perhaps a Labrador called Dave.

Then someone at Chery apparently decided that what the world really needed was an 818bhp luxury SUV with LiDAR, zero-gravity seats and enough technology to make a small office nervous.

Meet the Freelander 8. China deliveries begin on September 19, with prices currently starting at 289,900 yuan. And despite being launched only recently, the big square-edged SUV has already collected more than 5,000 firm orders.

Underneath that boxy exterior is an 800V extended-range powertrain combining a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with two electric motors.

The result is 610kW and 813Nm, enough to propel this enormous machine from 0–100km/h in 4.6 seconds. That is properly quick for something measuring more than five metres long.

It gets a 60.3kWh battery, 310km of claimed CLTC electric range and, rather wonderfully, 20–80 per cent charging in just 12 minutes.

Then there is the off-road hardware. The Huawei-developed i-ATS system offers 20 terrain modes, locking differentials at both ends and in the centre, plus rear-wheel steering to make the 5,118mm SUV surprisingly manoeuvrable.

Inside, meanwhile, passengers get massage-equipped zero-gravity seats, a refrigerator, folding tables and a gigantic 46.3-inch panoramic display.

In other words, it’s less “family SUV” and more luxury lounge, off-road machine and electric super-SUV rolled into one enormous box.