GWM Cannon Alpha News

The plug-in hybrid ute battle is about to boil over.GWM has made running changes to its new plug-in hybrid ute before it has even arrived on our roads, as it prepares to wage war on the BYD Shark 6 and Ford Ranger PHEV.The soon-to-be-launched Cannon Alpha PHEV is now cheaper and has more electric-only driving range than first promised.GWM has removed the national drive-away price for the two-tier plug-in hybrid Cannon Alpha range, which is good news for some but not for others.The base Cannon Alpha PHEV Lux now ranges between $61,490 and $64,590 depending on the state or territory you live in. This is compared to the previous $63,990 national drive-away price. Western Australia is the only state worse off.The BYD Shark 6 is still roughly $1000 cheaper, but more than $10,000 cheaper than the coming Ranger PHEV.It’s a similar story for the fully loaded Cannon Alpha PHEV Ultra that was priced at $68,990 but now ranges from between $67,990 and $71,090. If you are in WA, NSW and SA you’ll now pay more.GWM sweetens the deal with a free 7kW home charger.GWM now claims the Cannon Alpha PHEV can be driven up to 115km on pure electric power, up 5km on its previous claim. This figure is calculated on the more generous NEDC test cycle compared to the more stringent benchmark WLTP test regime.The Cannon Alpha PHEV is fitted with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, electric motor and a sizeable battery that allows it to drive up to 1060km before both the battery and fuel tank are depleted.It has a proper four-wheel-drive set-up, with a rear locking differential in the Lux and the addition of a front locking differential in the Ultra.It has a vehicle-to-load function that allows users to power appliances such as camping equipment and power tools via a regular household power socket in the vehicle.It also has a 3500kg braked towing capacity that trumps the BYD Shark 6 ute and equals the Ford Ranger PHEV.The first vehicles are now en route to Australia, before sales commence shortly after. 

Is Toyota preparing two completely different utes to replace the ageing current HiLux in Australia from next year? The first is the widely-speculated but as-yet publicly unconfirmed facelift of today’s eight-generation HiLux, while the second is new-from-the-ground up production version of the EPU (Electric Pick-Up) dual-cab concept that debuted at the 2023 Tokyo motor show.

More crucial powertrain details for the incoming Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid have been revealed.

GWM has confirmed pricing, details and the release date of its incoming plug-in hybrid ute, the Cannon Alpha PHEV.Poised to arrive in showrooms by April, the new ute will carry a price tag of $63,990, drive-away, for the entry-level Lux, rising to $68,990, drive-away, for the fully-loaded Ultra.Depending on which state you live in, its starting price puts it at about $2000 to $4000 more expensive than the drive-away pricing of its key competitor in the BYD Shark 6, which starts nationally at $57,900, before on-road costs.Pricing remains unconfirmed on the incoming Ford Ranger PHEV, its next biggest competitor, but Ford Australia has said on record that it is aiming for a price tag of less than $70,000 when it arrives later this year.On both Cannon Alpha variants, power will be sourced from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine (180kW/380Nm), with a single electric motor (120kW/400Nm), 37.1kWh ternary lithium battery and a nine-speed automatic transmission.All up, GWM claims total power and torque outputs of 300kW/750Nm, 21kW down on the Shark but with an extra 100Nm. This crucially means a 3500kg braked towing capacity.Under the NEDC cycle, pure electric range is rated at 110km with a total range of 880km. Both figures are 10 per cent higher than the BYD Shark 6.Fuel consumption, which is also certified under NEDC, is 1.7L/100km, exceeding the Shark 6’s 2.0L/100km rating, but falling short of Australia’s top-selling PHEVs in the Mitsubishi Outlander (1.5-litres/100km) and the BYD Sealion 6 (1.4-litres/100km).The Cannon Alpha PHEV provides full-time four-wheel drive, even when driving in EV mode; water wading depth is quoted at 800mm and maximum ground clearance is 224mm.A DC fast-charging rate of up to 50kW allows for a 30 to 80 per cent replenishment in 26 minutes, while a standard AC home charger will do the same charge in 6.5 hours.Vehicle-to-load functionality comes standard with a 3.3kW output, which is enough to power a camp fridge or air compressor.Standard features on the Lux include 18-inch alloy wheels, an electronic centre and rear locking differential, dual-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch digital driver's display and multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, synthetic leather seats and steering wheel, as well as LED headlights, running lights and taillights.The Ultra adds a front differential lock, a panoramic sunroof, a 14.6-inch multimedia display, a 60/40 split tailgate, a 10-speaker audio system, twin wireless charging pads, a head-up display, leather-accented seats, heated and ventilated front and rear outboard seats, as well as massage functions for the front seats.Both variants carry seven airbags, front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep Assist, hill descent control, rear collision warning and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with junction assist.A seven-year/unlimited km warranty applies to the GWM Cannon Alpha, along with an eight-year/unlimited km battery-pack warranty. Additionally, there is seven years of roadside assist and capped price servicing.Prices listed are national drive-away

If you think Chinese car brands can't teach Toyota, Ford or GM anything about making vehicles better, think again!

Sales of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are up more than 100 per cent as Australians look for ways to cut their fuel bills and embrace new technology.

Many so-called “all-new” models aren’t all that new. In fact, a sizeable chunk are reskinned versions of what came before, with fresh sheetmetal over the same general hard points.

The GWM Cannon Ute range is in runout with sales of between $2000 and $6000 for private buyers – and even larger discounts for ABN holders – as the brand readies its next-generation model.

Chinese carmakers are on the march, with sales growing globally and in Australia.

GWM is having a near range-wide sale with between $1000 and $6000 cut from drive-away prices until the end of the year. Additionally, the majority of discounted cars sold between now and November 8 get their three first scheduled services thrown in for free, valued between $297-$1870. The only exceptions are the Jolion Premium and Lux grades.Anyone who purchases GWM’s only battery electric car, the Ora, also gets a free charging station installation thrown in, valued at $1690. What’s the reason? Well, like BYD, MG and others with big offers on the table, it's partially about sales bragging rights but mostly clearing excess stock. GWM is on track for a record-breaking sales year in 2024, up 21.8 per cent having delivered 35,143 new cars. In October, it was in 10th spot, just shy of Nissan (37,710) and with a few strong months to round the year out, it could climb into ninth place.The new Cannon Alpha now starts at $49,990 drive-away with a $2000 discount on both the 135kW/480Nm diesel and unique 255kW/546Nm plugless hybrid version. Its smaller Cannon ute sibling with its smaller 120kW 2.0-litre turbo-diesel can be had from as little as $35,490 drive-away, a $3500 discount, while the blacked-out Vanta black-pack is $5000 more affordable at $42,490. The related Tank 300 Jeep Wrangler-rivalling off-roader now wades in at $45,990 ($2000 off) while the hybrid versions get $5000 knocked off the sticker, as low as $50,990 for the Lux. The only model to miss a straight discount is the Tank 500, though it still gets $1870 worth of scheduled servicing thrown in. GWM’s Haval SUV range includes a Kia Seltos challenger, the Jolion, which can be had for up to $3000 less in petrol guise, handily undercutting a Mitsubishi ASX at $23,990 drive-away.The larger H6 is also on offer with up to $3500 off the hybrid version, meaning the rival to Toyota’s in-demand RAV4 can be as low as $38,990 on-the-road. A petrol version can be had for $30,990 drive-away. Finally, the Ora electric car nearly makes its way as low as the MG4, with $2000 knocked off the Standard Range guise making it $33,990. The Extended Range gets a tantalising $6000 lopped from the price at $34,990 — plus a free home charging station.