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2021 GWM Ute upgraded months after going on sale, more models coming

Chinese car giant Great Wall Motors has made running changes to the new Cannon Ute after feedback from early test drives, and a 4x2 model is just around the corner.


Great Wall Motors has endeavoured to iron out some of the bumps in its new-generation Ute just months after going on sale in Australia.

In response to feedback from early test drives by customers and media, GWM says it has smoothed out the twitchy throttle response and reduced turbo lag with a new software calibration.

The changes are due to be introduced from July 2021 production onwards, however the company said it would retrospectively upgrade examples of the GWM Ute that had already been delivered locally, by doing a “reflash” of the software during routine maintenance with a service campaign.

"Following some feedback about turbo lag and throttle response, GWM’s research and development engineers have made some running changes to improve driveability," GWM Australia marketing manager Steve Maciver told media this week.

"The engine esponse should be a lot more linear with the changes," said Mr Maciver, who added that cars that were already in customer hands would receive the update free of charge during the next routine service.

Mr Maciver said GWM was "trying to be hands-on and continually improve the product ... to get where we need to be."

Meanwhile, GWM Australia also said it would introduce a 4x2 variant of the double-cab ute, and offer a manual 4x4 option from July 2021 production onwards.

Those variants should arrive in Australia in the last few months of this year, and are expected to give GWM another sales boost in the booming ute market.

When the GWM Ute went on sale in Australia earlier this year, it was only available in 4x4 automatic guise.

All GWM Cannon Ute models will gain smartphone mirroring technology (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) from July 2021 production onwards, though it is unclear if this infotainment technology can be retro-fitted to earlier vehicles that have already been delivered to customers.

Single-cab variants were first outed in government filings in February, though timing for these has yet to be confirmed.


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Joshua Dowling

Joshua Dowling has been a motoring journalist for more than 20 years, spending most of that time working for The Sydney Morning Herald (as motoring editor and one of the early members of the Drive team) and News Corp Australia. He joined CarAdvice / Drive in 2018, and has been a World Car of the Year judge for more than 10 years.

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