Great Wall Motor

Chinese cars continue to rocket up the new-car sales charts Australia, overtaking sales from Germany and the USA for the first four months this year. It is the first time in Australian automotive history cars from China have outsold those from Germany and the USA for such an extended period.

UPDATE, 12 January 2021: The GWM Ute has had its towing capacity officially certified to 3000kg. When initially launched in late 2020, GWM listed a 2250kg towing capacity for the Ute, but has now been certified the model for towing up to 3000kg, with a maximum downball weight of 300kg.

Great Wall Motors (now rebranded as GWM) – and its subsidiary Haval – are considering two new rugged-looking mid-sized SUVs for the Australian market. An email sent to potential Australian car buyers – a copy of which has been obtained by CarAdvice – shows two new models in particular that the manufacturer is actively considering.

Great Wall hasn't given its new ute a name yet, but it's already preparing a pair of pumped-up engines for power-hungry buyers. The new Pickup, as it’s currently known by Great Wall, will be available with petrol and diesel power, the former making 120kW and 360Nm, the latter offering 145kW and between 380Nm and 400Nm of torque. Both displace 2.0-litres, both are turbocharged. A six-speed manual and eight-speed ZF automatic will be available.

The first electric ute in Australia could come from China, with Great Wall confirming the pure-electric version of its new ute was "always" in its plans. Timing hasn't been confirmed, but Haval Australia's managing director Koma Li says Great Wall will take the as-yet unnamed electric pickup despite of our market's reticence to adopt battery-powered vehicles.