Articles by Byron Mathioudakis

The Toyota Prado-esque Haval H9 won’t be allowed into Australia.One of GWM’s guaranteed hits, the chunky 4WD that would probably cost a fraction of its Japanese inspiration rivals seems to have been knocked back for our market.Planned to land locally this year, we understand that the H9 instead makes way for a pair of brand-first seven-seater hybrid SUVs, the H7 Plus and H10, although neither are officially confirmed as yet.Disappointing news for 4x4 fans wanting a handsomely proportioned, off-road-engineered value option, perhaps, but the odds are stacked against the H9.Looking exactly like what a rugged and ready Toyota Prado rival should, the body-on-frame 4WD wagon, now two-years old in China, shares its chassis and some mechanical parts with GWM’s actual proper off-road brand Tank’s 500 sold in Australia since 2024, along with the related Tank 300.The latter, in particular, has been a success for GWM, attracting a diverse buyer set. And therein lies the problem.Haval is a value-for-money SUV brand proposition, not an off-road offering. This means the rugged, Tank-esque H9 does not fit with the rest of the range, creating fears that it would muddy the waters for buyers who are still getting used to GWM’s sheer proliferation of sub-brands that will soon add Wey (luxury) alongside Ora (electrification), Cannon (ute) and Tank (4WDs).Furthermore, due to their shared parts, sizing and visual similarities, the question of sales cannibalisation between the Tank and Haval is clearly keeping GWM’s Australian product planners up at night, particularly when the added cost of model complexity is thrown into the mix.Plus, just facelifted this year in China, the H9 now looks similar to one of the several facelifted H7 Plus versions, which has conveniently gained the company’s vaunted Hi4 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) tech. And that’s scheduled to come to Australia before the end of the year as a long-wheelbase seven-seater adjunct to the volume-selling H6 five-seater mid-sized SUV.Or, in other words, right in the heart of the family-car market in this country fight now.Not only would this broaden Haval’s market reach against rival Chinese seven-seater SUV PHEVs like the recently-released BYD Sealion 8 and Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid, it gives GWM another low-emissions hybrid to help it better meet New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) requirements.Fewer fines, more potential buyers. This is something that the 2.4-litre turbo diesel and 2.0-litre turbo-petrol-powered H9 would actively work against, sealing the model’s fate in Australia, at least for this generation.According to GWM Australia Public Relations Manager, Justin Stefani, it makes more sense to choose the H10 over the H9.“If we don't bring in the H9, there's potential for bringing H10 in,” he revealed at the China Auto Show in Beijing late last month.“The option is there… it’s just how we play the chessboard, right?”As reported last month, the H10 is Haval’s monocoque five-metre flagship SUV, offering three rows of seating, and is slated to arrive in early 2028 at this stage.It has only been announced with GWM’s four-cylinder turbo-petrol PHEV powertrains, though other varieties are expected to follow in time.GWM Australia Marketing Manager, Steve Maciver, added that he is cognisant of the potential confusion of offering a Tank-like Haval.“That’s the bit that we have to work through,” he admitted. “You know, we're developing a very, very clear master brand position in GWM with Wey sitting at the head of that. How those brands across Haval, Tank, Cannon, Ora and Wey play.“It's about bringing personality, purpose and a role to each of those brands.“We've got to be clear on what Haval stands for. That's where those product decisions are really important for us to make sure we get that right.”

The Tank 700 appears to have the green light for Australia.That’s the good news. So is the fact that it will offer GWM's vaunted new twin-turbo V8, as well as a long-wheelbase model with three-row/seven-seater capability, making it more family-friendly practicality.The bad news is that the Toyota LandCruiser, Mercedes G-Wagen-like hybrid off-road SUV is still up to two years away from launching here, despite the debuted of a facelifted version at last month’s China Auto Show in Beijing.According to GWM Australia Public Relations Manager Justin Stefani the company will hold out for the next redesign that is due to surface in its home market later next year or in 2028.“There is no timing confirmed,” he said.“It aligns with what (GWM International Vice President, James Wang) said… that, from an engineering perspective, we would look to potentially bring the 700 into Australia on the back of a new iteration.“Because the 700 is quite an old vehicle, it’s been around for a while, so if you think about chronologically, (this just facelifted) 700 comes out, new V8 powertrain comes out, and we’d be silly to put a car in for 12 months that’s aged and then have to update it.“We’d probably wait until the next-generation is out, and then look to how that business case works.“We’d probably say 18 to 24 months off.”So, how actually old is the 700? Using a variation of the platform found in the Tank 500 SUV and Cannon Alpha ute, this large, design-driven body-on-frame 4x4 five-seater wagon arrived in China in early 2024.As part of the mid-cycle update, the MY26 facelift includes a revised front-end design, new trims and updates to what’s under the bonnet.This includes the implementation of that highly-anticipated 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, to be made available with electrification. Details are to be divulged at a later time, as it has yet to hit the roads in China.Which means, for now at least, the 700 headline is the new 3.0-litre twin-turbo internal combustion engine (ICE) petrol V6s.First up is the 260kW/560Nm non-electrified unit, driving all for wheels via a nine-speed torque-converter auto developed in-house at GWM and shared with the China-market Cannon Alpha and Tank 500. It’s good for 0-100km/h in 8.6 seconds, 190km/h or 12.5 litres per 100km.Next up is the Hi4-T plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version, adding an electric motor to up the V6’s combined power, combined torque and acceleration numbers to 385kW, 800Nm and 8.3s, while a 37.1kWh battery pack allows for under 100km of pure-EV range. This one prioritises off-road 4x4 prowess.Finally comes the all-new, GWM-first Hi4-Z PHEV application, removing the centre differential but adding an electric motor and 59kWh battery out the back, for a WLTC (China)-claimed 190km range, as well as a 720kW and 1375Nm combined-bump in outputs, shaving 0.6s off the 0-100km/h time. This is more on-road focused, boosting efficiency significantly.Note the latter’s additional electrification tech significantly cuts into the 700’s braked towing capacity, dropping from 3500kg to 2500kg.Plus, cargo capacity suffers as well, from the ICE’s 490 litres to 392L (Hi4-T) and just 180L (Hi4-Z), followed by corresponding drops when the rear seatbacks are folded down, from 1601L to the Z’s 1025L.Maybe that’s why GWM Australia has elected to wait for the next-gen model, which may have better electrification packaging so as to not compromise practicality.With the latest electrified V6 and V8 petrol choices, combined with upgraded diesel options and the Australian Tune 1 steering and suspension upgrades by ex-Holden dynamics engineer Rob Trubiani, the 2028 700 is shaping up to be an intriguing premium off-road SUV indeed.

GWM has revealed its upcoming Tank 800 full-sized SUV flagship has been given the green light for Australia – and it’s going to be here sooner than anybody expected.To be released before the end of June next year, the body-on-frame 4WD wagon will arrive with electrified V8 petrol power options in the higher-end versions, to match considerable off-road capability, giving the Chinese brand flagship a point of difference against the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Nissan Y63 Patrol.It should have a considerable price advantage over its V6 turbo petrol-powered Japanese opponents, starting from around $100,000 if the speculation is to be believed, while equipment and luxury specifications suggest that the 800 will be more-closely aligned with their Lexus LX and not-for-Australia Infiniti QX80 offshoots.“The Tank 800 has just been approved for Australia for the second quarter of next year,” according to GWM Australia Public Relations Manager, Justin Stefani. “(GWM Australia Chief Operating Officer, John Kett) and I were just told this morning.”Previewed all the way back in 2021 as a concept vehicle, the production 800 will debut in China soon. The “cheaper” versions are likely to have seven seats, while the more-opulent models will have a 2+2+2 arrangement boasting ‘captain’s chairs’ with ottomans, massaging seats and other trinkets, as per the brand’s (unrelated) Wey V9X full-sized luxury SUV.In keeping with the Tank’s branding, the 800 will deploy GWM’s new separate-chassis platform architecture, that is also expected to eventually underpin a full-sized ute (think Ford F-150). That was mooted for release in the North American market (where the Chinese brands are yet to conquer), though that has been indefinitely delayed (but not cancelled, we understand) due to the current US administration’s tariffs.As revealed back in January, the Tank’s engine in question will be a 403kW 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol unit that, when mated to at least two electric motors and driving all four wheels via a dedicated hybrid transmission, bumps that power output up to 735kW.GWM Chief Technology Officer Nicole Wu, told the Australian media at the recent China Auto Show in Beijing that it will be made available in series-parallel hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle configurations, giving consumers unprecedented power as well as fuel economy.Less-expensive versions are expected to use variations of GWM’s 3.0-litre turbo petrol Hi4-T PHEV engines, which – in the smaller Tank 700 – delivers a handy 385kW and 800Nm.More information about the upcoming 800 will be divulged shortly.

GWM is readying a second full-sized ute, and its first that would directly challenge the big US pick-up trucks internationally, as defined by the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra, with V8 hybrid power and economy.While North America is the obvious prime target for this as-yet unnamed model, Australia is also part of the mix, with the Chinese brand hoping to offer a high-specification dual-cab ute, perhaps for well-under $100,000, within the next two years or so.And we’re talking about a factory-built right-hand-drive (RHD) proposition here, not the costly remanufactured program that has lately priced the US utes out of reach for many Australian consumers.The top big GWM ute is expected to offer a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that can reportedly deliver around 735kW of power and over 1200Nm of torque in its highest tune.And even the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 PHEV alternative puts larger-engined rivals to shame, with an impressive 385kW and about 800Nm mooted.Plus, the ace up the sleeve is the high-economy/low-emissions benefits of hybrid electrification, differentiating this from the other full-sized pick-up competition.According to GWM Australia Public Relations Manager, Justin Stefani, the company had intended to break into the North American market with the big ute by about now, until the 2024 US election and the current administration’s war on imports via the implementation of severe tariffs put the whole project on pause for the time being.“Last year, we were told that the V8 was highly aligned to a future larger pickup truck for our introduction to the US market,” he revealed to the Australian media at last month’s China Auto Show in Beijing.“That was actually parked due to the fact that Trump came in. That was very clear that they were unsure what was going on with tariffs.”Whether the new GWM ute flagship would have any connection with the brand’s first full-sized pick-up, the King Kong Cannon, is unclear, as this is mainly a China-only model, down to its 2.0-litre turbo/manual-only powertrains.However, as the latter was only launched in 2021 and remains in production, there could be quite a lot of similarities and/or carryover parts, especially given how similar their size and dimensions would end up being.Whatever the case may be, the new full-sized pick-up would be substantially bigger than the existing P500 Cannon Alpha, which – as the larger of the two utes GWM is currently selling in Australia that also includes the P300 Cannon – already has a broader footprint and body than the Ford Ranger and most other medium-sized competition.To help amortise the vast costs behind bringing the international full-sized pick-up to fruition, it is part of an ongoing project using an all-new separate-chassis architecture that may also underpin the imminent Tank 800 three-row 4WD wagon.With the US market still up in the air, Australia’s role in supporting the big Chinese pick-up’s road to production is more important than before.“If that is on table, we would definitely look at potentially an F-150 sized ute,” Stefani said.“In terms of (GWM) going into the US...that was parked. So, that’s not to say we're not going to ever go to the US market, it's just (we're) trying to get some clarity as to what's going on with tariffs. Once that settles down they will understand (how to proceed).”Whether the full-sized ute’s dimensions and braked towing capacity exceed those of the big American alternatives, which are roughly around 5.5 metres in length and 4.5 tonnes in capability, are yet to be revealed.It appears GWM sees a gap in the Australian market, particularly in rural areas, as the original and highly-successful “Eats Utes for Breakfast” Ram 1500 from late last decade was forced to vacate its circa-$80,000 to $90,000 price point after the original DS series gave way to the more-advanced but far-more expensive DT series some three years ago.Since then, the least-expensive DT 1500 starts from $109,950 (all prices are before on-road costs) for the newly-announced Express Edition.Then it’s a step up to the $114,950 F-150 XLT SWB, and then a big jump to the $134,500 Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium and MY26 Tundra Limited Hybrid from $155,990.

GWM is set to replace the controversially designed H7 hybrid mid-sized SUV sooner than expected with a variation of a Chinese-market alternative.Offering completely different styling, three-row seating availability and a tech-heavy plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) system, it is expected to launch in Australia later this year as the 2027 H7.It is based on the Menglong – which translates to Raptor in China – that launched back in 2023 in China, rather than the second-gen Big Dog of the same vintage that Australia knows as the existing H7. The 2027 H7 has been recently facelifted with a new nose treatment as well as the addition of a long-wheelbase version known as the Plus.Whether that suffix transfers over is yet to be confirmed. The Menglong/H7 is also known as the V7 in some other markets.According to a GWM spokesperson speaking to Australian journalists at the China Auto Show in Beijing, we should expect to see both the five-seat and seven-seat models in time.“We will probably see the long-wheelbase model as well as the short-wheelbase version of the (Menglong),” he said.In China, the Menglong/H7 Plus features GWM’s latest Hi4 PHEV powertrain, with a four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, two electric motors for all-wheel drive and a large battery pack underneath offering decent EV-only range of at least 140km.This would make it a direct rival to other seven-seater SUVs, like the BYD Sealion 8 PHEV, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Kia Sorento PHEV and Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV, suggesting a starting price north of $60,000.In contrast, the Big Dog-based H7 as sold in Australia right now is a smaller five-seater SUV with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol hybrid system driving the front wheels only, despite its chunky styling suggesting 4x4 capability. It's offered as a single grade only, that currently starts from $46,990 drive-away.Like the latter, the Menglong/H7 Plus is a monocoque-bodied SUV (related to the H6) with a transverse engine layout, meaning it will probably be a largely on-road-only proposition, though with some off-road clearances and additional technology for light 4x4 duties in line with its boxy, rugged styling.This makes sense for GWM, since the visually similar Tank 300 and its larger 500 cousin are proper 4WD SUVs with tough body-on-frame construction, meaning they appeal to a different type of consumer compared to the more urbane H7 Plus.The availability of a seven-seater PHEV model also opens the Haval up to a broader audience, so it should prove more popular than the existing model.With just 369 sales in the first four months of this year in Australia, the current H7 trails the H6’s 5000-plus result by a considerable margin.

GWM will give its Cannon Alpha dual-cab ute and its very closely-related Tank 500 SUV a handy performance and economy boost with a big new internal combustion engine (ICE) transplant.Due in August, the 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel unit is a coup for the local distributor, as Australia will be the first market in the world to receive it, according to a company spokesperson.Final specifications and outputs are yet to be divulged, but in the Chinese-market 2027 models, the big four-pot diesel will deliver around 170kW of power and 620Nm of torque, pushed to the rear or all four wheels via a beefed-up version of the company’s in-house nine-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.This will be the first diesel application of any description in the 500 SUV, which has only been available here with a 258kW/615Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol hybrid since its 2024 Australian release and, more-recently, a 300kW/750Nm plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) option dubbed Hi4-T.The same plug-in hybrid set-up is also available in the Cannon Alpha, which is the larger and newer of two Cannon utes GWM sells in Australia, but the 3.0-litre unit will supplant the existing 135kW/400Nm 2.4-litre turbo-diesel, suggesting that price rises are coming as a result of the switcheroo.As announced at last month’s China Auto Show, hybrid and PHEV diesel versions will also be offered in various models across each of GWM’s sub-brands, as required, in the near future, including with the 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit serving the entry-level P300 Cannon utes.“Maybe the first quarter of 2027,” according to GWM Chief Technology Officer Nicole Wu. “That really depends on the real situation in each market.”The company has already released some data pertaining to the 2.4-litre TD hybrid as found in the 2027 Tank 500, making a combined 145kW and 500Nm, though electric motor outputs have not yet been announced.Local timing for these electrified iterations has yet to be confirmed.That said, the latest diesel seems very efficient.In both the Cannon Alpha and Tank 500 versions that will launch in China later this year, the 3.0-litre engine is actually more economical than the 2.4-litre, according to the (comparatively lenient) Chinese combined average fuel-consumption cycle numbers.In the ute it returns 7.1 litres per 100km with 2WD and 7.3L/100km with 4WD, as opposed to 8.1L/100km in the smaller diesel 4WD alternative, while the SUV’s equivalent 3.0-litre versus 2.4-litre figures are 8.4 and 8.6 respectively.As a result, the coming 3.0-litre hybrid and PHEVs stand to be very frugal.Better still, the big diesel slices nearly 5.5 seconds off the P500 Alpha 2.4-litre TD’s 0-100km/h sprint time, coming in at 10.6s. In the Tank 500, the corresponding figures see a 4.4s drop, to 10.1s.Note, however, that the Hi4-T PHEV in both vehicle types is still the sprint champion of the range at just 7.4s (Alpha) and 6.9s (Tank 500), while still being able to return a theoretical 1.7L/100km and 2.2L/100km respectively.Which probably makes offering the 2998cc 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine option in the Cannon Alpha and Tank 500 redundant for our market, particularly with record-high fuel prices, but GWM has left the door open by revealing that it is “…not decided yet for Australia.”For the record, in the SUV, it makes 260kW and 500Nm, manages the 0-100km/h time in 7.3s and averages 11.5L/100km.

Australia’s cheapest electric SUV right now is poised to gain an even-cheaper hybrid (HEV) sister model before long.The Ora 5 EV lands in showrooms later this month from a headline-making $33,990 (all prices are drive-away), but the Ora 5 HEV may cost considerably less, even dipping below $30,000 for the entry-level Lux grade.For now, parent company GWM refuses to confirm the HEV is even a definite starter for Australia, stating instead that it needs to concentrate on getting the retro-themed sub-brand’s first EV SUV off the ground.This comes after the consistently poor sales of the now-discontinued Ora hatch (that inexplicably cost $2000 more than the Ora 5 EV SUV) in this market.“Our focus right now is on launching the Ora 5 SUV (EV),” said GWM Australia Head of Marketing and Communications Steve Maciver.“We think it's the right car at the right time. We've been pretty aggressive in terms of our positioning and our pricing. We see an opportunity, so that's why we've done that.“But… the way we've positioned the Ora 5 SUV, has been intentional in terms of where that's going to position other models around that as well. So, read into that what you will. We’re pretty happy with Ora pricing right now. It is resonating, but it does leave us options either side of it.”With the uncertainty surrounding fuel prices, the booming popularity of EVs may be short-lived, meaning that GWM is probably hedging its bets by offering broader electrification choices for consumers in Australia like the Ora 5 HEV.“There will be further expansions that come in the Ora range this year,” Maciver added. “You’re going to see possibly one and even two additional Ora models to land in Australia this year as well.“(But) at this stage, Ora is focused on EV. There may be hybrid options in there as well… we’re not committing one way or another, but again, we’ve got plenty of options. We’ve just got to work out what the right one for us is.”There may be further, different Ora models coming beyond the 5 SUV, though what these are remain a tightly-held secret. Predictions include a larger SUV and a city-sized runabout.“There are other vehicles which we have seen, which were very keen on, which have not yet been reviewed publicly, which are very much on our radar to add to the Ora portfolio,” Maciver teased.In China, the Ora 5 is available with three powertrain choices.The EV features a 150kW/260Nm electric motor and 58.3kWh battery pack for a range claim of about 430km (all figures are WLTC).The HEV pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor for a combined 164kW of power and 476Nm of torque, averaging 5.1 litres per 100km for over 1000km of range.The solely internal combustion engine variants come as either a 105kW/210Nm naturally-aspirated or 118kW/270Nm turbo versions, for a 6.7L/100km rating.Along with the different powertrain, the Ora 5 HEV comes with reduced cargo capacity, falling from the EV’s 422 litres to 390L without a spare wheel, or from 362L to just 272L with one.Maciver added that he is buoyed by the pre-launch reaction to the Ora 5 EV’s pricing.“That’s had a really, really strong reception so far, taking a good amount of orders within the first couple of weeks,” he said.“We've said all along that, with Ora, if we can get an EV powertrain into an SUV bodystyle, we will do well with it. Now, obviously, the timing for us has been very fortuitous right now, but that car has really hit the ground running.”The Ora 5 EV’s $33,990 pricing undercuts all rival EV SUVs, including the BYD Atto 2 from around $35,500, Jaecoo J5 EV from $36,990 and ageing Chery E5 from $37,990.There are cheaper non-SUV EVs, such as the BYD Atto 1 hatchback from around $27,100, not-so-small MG 4 Urban hatch from $31,990, GAC Aion UT hatch from $32,990 and BYD Dolphin hatch from about $33,400.

Move over, Denza B8!Arguably China’s most-convincing answer-yet to the Mercedes-Benz GLS, Lexus LX, Range Rover and other European and Japanese upper-large luxury SUVs is looming for Australia, with most conceivable luxury features for half price.Revealed in early March and debuting at last month’s China Auto Show in Beijing, GWM flagship brand Wey’s V9X has yet to be confirmed for Australia.However, according to a company spokesperson speaking to CarsGuide at the company’s vast headquarters in Baoding, it could follow on from the G9 luxury people mover that is scheduled to finally arrive sometime in the second half of this year.“The V9X is under very serious consideration for Australia,” he said. “We have not yet made the decision… and it would be priced over $100,000.”That would make the GWM more expensive than the Denza B8, that starts from $91,000 and nearly $98,000 for the seven-seater and six-seater models respectively.To help justify that, the Wey SUV is designed, packaged and specified to go up against the higher-grade versions of its competitors.This means including luxuries like GWM-first air suspension with three comfort settings, four-wheel steering with a “Crab Mode” for a tighter turning circle, AI assistance inside, next-level autonomous driving tech where legal, powered doors, massaging seats (with captain’s chairs and ottomans in the second and third row), expansive multimedia systems accessed by various huge touchscreens, multiple conductive charging surfaces for devices and more.A colossal amount of individualisation is available, within two body lengths (5.2 metres and 5.3m) and wheelbase sizes (3050mm and 3150mm). Kerb weight ranges from 2740kg to 2930kg.Built on GWM’s all-new ONE Platform, the electrified architecture supports internal combustion engine (ICE) in hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) formats branded Hi4, as well as coming EV power using battery and - later on - fuel-cell hydrogen applications. Even the Hi4 is available in faster-charging 800 volt as well as 400V configurations.For now, the V9X is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol Hi4 PHEV-only proposition, using a three- or four-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (depending on spec), paired to two electric motors and a choice of battery packs in around 55.5kWh, 66kWh and 80kWh sizes, for China-rated CLTC range of 240km, 312km and 363km respectively. Not bad for a massive electrified SUV.Full details are still scarce, but the 400V PHEV with the 55.5kWh battery delivers a combined 510kW of power and 862Nm of torque to all four wheels, for a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds on the way to a 210km/h top speed, while the 800V PHEV’s numbers are 550kW, 930Nm, 4.6s and 225km/h.To help keep all that performance in check, the V9X features intelligent-torque-distribution all-wheel drive and electronically-controlled air suspension for the double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension systems.More information, including full data specs for the whole range, will be revealed later this year.

GWM has confirmed an ‘all-new’ Haval H6 will arrive in Australia during the first quarter of next year, to replace the third-generation version that has been around since 2020.Larger, longer and promising higher-quality fittings, there will also be corresponding price increases to match, we’re told, up from today’s base H6 Lux grade’s $36,000 drive-away.This would put GWM’s vital new mid-sized SUV closer to direct rivals such as the Nissan X-Trail, Mitsubishi Outlander and Mazda CX-5 that all kick off from just under $40,000 before on-road costs.We’ll know more about pricing and other specification details closer to its Australian launch in February or March, 2027.Elsewhere in the world, Haval’s family SUV is actually not a direct replacement for the existing H6, including in its Chinese home market, but a different model altogether and badged as Xiaolong Max, H6L or H6 Max.Released there in early 2023, it was facelifted last year, meaning that the 2027 H6 for Australia is actually a facelift of a series that will be nearly four-years old when it debuts here.Whether GWM Australia adds the ‘L’ or ‘Max’ suffix to the new H6 is unknown at this stage.We understand the larger Jolion Max will be added to the regular Jolion range by the end of this year, to help fill the void left by the demise of the existing H6, allowing the brand to offer a value-focused SUV that is roomy enough for many families’ needs.The Jolion Max is closely related to the Xiaolong Max/H6L/H6 Max.In China, the H6L/Max is offered in a variety of powertrains that broadly mirror today’s existing Australian-market H6.The entry-level models continue to use a 170kW/380Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, driving either the front (2WD) or all four wheels (AWD) via a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission. It can scoot to 100km/h from standstill in 7.6 seconds (AWD: 7.8s), hit 215km/h and average 7.8 litres per 100km (AWD: 8.3L/100km) on the Chinese WLTC cycle.More economy-minded motorists can choose a 182kW/535Nm (2WD) or 182kW/670Nm (AWD, or Hi4 in GWM-speak) HEV hybrid versions, boasting similar performance but a handy 5.6/6.1L/100km.As with today’s H6, there are also plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) grades, adding an electric motor and a choice of battery (23.7kWh and 33.8kWh), for 240kW/535Nm (2WD) and 280kW/670Nm (AWD Hi4). It is unclear whether these figures are combined. WLTC consumption is 1.0-1.3L/100km, the Hi4 PHEV manages 0-100km/h in 5.6s, while WLTC-rated EV-only range is between 95km and 140km depending on battery size.So, how much larger and more family-friendly is 2027 H6?Coming in at 4780mm long, 1895mm wide, 1730mm high and 2800mm in wheelbase, it meets or exceeds the current model’s corresponding measurements by 77mm, 9mm, 0mm and 62mm respectively.However, at 436 litres, the newcomer’s luggage capacity falls nearly 30 per cent short of the current H6’s 560L. Closer to the swoopier H6 GT (B03) SUV coupe’s 392L, it is not much larger than the smaller Jolion Max petrol’s 412L.All the H6L/Maxx figures quoted are for the Chinese domestic market versions, meaning many will invariably change for Australia.Lower boot capacity and higher prices aside, the newcomer’s sleeker styling, increased dimensions, claimed quality uptick and uprated powertrains should resonate with Australians.And that’s not forgetting the Australian steering and suspension changes GWM is implementing on all new models as they roll them out, courtesy of ex-Holden dynamics engineer Rob Trubiani.We’ll find out more later this year, ahead of the Haval’s debut early in 2027.

LDV is set to muscle in on the rapidly-expanding plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) ute segment in Australia with a two-pronged strategy covering all bases and budgets.Unveiled in Beijing late last month, the T70 PHEV and Terron 9 PHEV are both expected to land locally sometime next year, though importer Ateco Automotive has yet to confirm this.The cheaper of the two will be the T70 PHEV. As a substantial update of the existing, 10-year-old T60 ute (it may retain the old name for Australia), it is expected to match and even undercut other similarly-electrified dual-cab utes also from China.These include the just-announced JAC Hunter PHEV that starts from $50,000 before on-road costs, the GWM Cannon PHEV that is due in Australia from August with pricing yet to be confirmed, as well as the as-yet-unnamed Chery ‘KP31’ that is being prepared for launch in a few months.Meanwhile, the Terron 9 PHEV will be the more-premium choice, taking on the BYD Shark 6 PHEV that kicks off from $57,990 before on-road costs in Premium grade (though a recently-released Cab Chassis version costs $2000 less).GWM’s larger second ute option, the Cannon Alpha PHEV that starts from $61,490 drive-away in base Lux guise, as well as the coming Nissan Frontier Pro PHEV, may also be in the larger LDV PHEV’s crosshairs.In contrast, Australia’s best-selling vehicle over the past two years, the Ford Ranger, is not even in the hunt against these Chinese alternatives, with the PHEV (imported from South Africa instead of Thailand like the rest of the range) commencing from $71,990 before on-road costs in XLT specification, soaring to $86,990 for the Stormtrak flagship.Despite anticipated sharp pricing, the LDV’s powertrain promises to be advanced, combining a petrol engine and an electric motor to offer both mechanical and electric four-wheel-drive capability.Other PHEV details, including powertrain outputs, battery size and range, will be revealed at a later stage.So, what are the other changes to the latest, facelifted T60/T70 series?More than just a makeover, it appears that almost every exterior panel is new from the windscreen forward and the rear window-back, including the sheetmetal and nose cone.And while the basic centre section carries over, the interior has also come in for a complete redesign, with its restyled dashboard incorporating a sizeable central touchscreen/instrumentation display, mimicking that of the Terron 9.Speaking of which, the latter is also set to donate its 163kW/520Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine to the smaller ute, replacing the 160kW/500Nm 2.0-litre unit as found in the existing T60 in Australia. Whether the same power and torque outputs also carry through is not known at this stage.The coming PHEV is not the first electrified LDV ute to be sold in Australia.The existing T60 has gone down in history as the first ute to offer a battery electric vehicle (EV) option as the eT60 back in 2022.But stratospheric pricing (from nearly $100,000), rear-drive only (so no 4x4 availability) and low carrying capacity scuppered any chance of success, leading to the EV's discontinuation in 2024. That failure seems to have also delayed the eTerron 9 EV indefinitely.LDV is unlikely to make the same mistakes with either the Terron 9 PHEV or T60/T70 PHEV if/when they get the green light for Australia.Watch this space.