GWM is bucking the industry-wide trend of downsizing on diesel by developing a new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine for its upcoming Cannon Alpha and Tank model line-ups.

Confirmed by GWM executives, the 3.0-litre diesel will power the Cannon Alpha ute, Tank 500 and Tank 700 variants, and it’s slated to arrive in 2027. It does not apply to the current Cannon or Tank vehicles.

The new 3.0-litre engine is expected to improve performance, fuel economy and emissions, compared to the current 2.0- and 2.4-litre diesels. Its development is part of GWM’s wider strategic strategy to offer a diverse range of powertrain options, including diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric.

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Currently in Australia, GWM offers two diesel powertrain options: a 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel and a 135kW/480Nm 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

GWM also recently announced that a four-litre V8 petrol engine is en-route, most likely powering a Tank 500 or Tank 700 – but conceivably a Cannon Alpha PHEV, as they share the same chassis architecture. It is expected that the V8 will produce more than GWM’s V6 hybrid which puts out 380kW and 800Nm.

The Chinese brand is also gearing up for the Australian launch of its BYD Shark rival, with the Cannon Alpha PHEV expected to be in local showrooms in just a few weeks.

The Alpha PHEV is powered by a 180kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, paired to a nine-speed transmission. Combined with the 37.1kWh ternary lithium battery, the Alpha’s total output is 300kW and 750Nm – significantly more torque than the Shark’s 321kW/650Nm.

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