GWM Tank 500: New 3.0-litre diesel engine to debut in Australia in 2026 to fight Toyota Prado, Ford Everst and Isuzu MU-X

A elevated-displacement four-cylinder turbo diesel engine in development by GWM can beget its world debut in Australia “by mid-2026”, the conglomerate’s chief technology officer Nicole Wu says.

“A three-litre turbo [engine] is coming soon, and right here is the kicker — our 3.0-litre Tank diesel model will make its world debut moral right here in Australia by Would possibly perchance well simply next twelve months,” Wu urged media in conjunction with Chasing Vehicles.

The resolution to unveil the original engine in Australia is a boon for GWM’s local operations, with GWM world executives confirming Australia is a pillar of the Chinese conglomerate’s enlargement method.

GWM is suddenly expanding powertrain alternate suggestions in Australia, with the all-original diesel becoming a member of a lineup that additionally contains petrol engines, plugless petrol hybrids (HEVs), trot-in hybrids (PHEVs), and battery EVs (BEVs).

Whereas most manufacturers are sharp a ways from diesel engines, GWM says the expanding allotment of hybrid gross sales will manufacture headroom below Australia’s New Vehicle Effectivity Traditional (NVES) regime to continue promoting diesel and petrol engines in future.

3.0-litre diesel to be sold alongside trot-in hybrid engines

The original 3.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine will make its debut within the Tank 500 four-wheel drive, with the engine location to vary into GWM’s ‘top charge’ diesel powertrain.

Meanwhile, a 2.4-litre diesel engine producing 135kW/480Nm is anticipated to continue doing duty in smaller GWM 4 wheel drive fashions in conjunction with the Tank 300 and the common-dimension Cannon ute.

“We all know Aussies love diesel, and we had been perfecting it since 2002 with 24 years of technology,” acknowledged Wu.

The Tank 500, a Toyota LandCruiser Prado rival, is at hide supplied in Australia with a 255kW/548Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol/hybrid (HEV) engine, with a 300kW/750Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol/trot-in hybrid (PHEV) option becoming a member of the line-up imminently.

GWM will rely on gross sales of the Tank 500 PHEV to steadiness out the model’s common emissions, though it expects the 3.0-litre diesel to sell very strongly in Australia — doubtlessly necessitating the diesel to be dearer than the PHEV over time.

Before every little thing, then all over again, GWM chief working officer John Kett urged Chasing Vehicles that the realizing is to “let [the 3.0-litre diesel] trip” earlier than making any powertrain pricing changes to suit NVES necessities over time.

Both the PHEV and the original diesel are anticipated to generate appreciable extra gross sales for the Tank 500, as gross sales performance with the HEV-most efficient powertrain lineup has lagged effectively within the support of the Prado.

New diesel additionally anticipated for Cannon Alpha, V8 quiet in development

The massive Cannon Alpha ute is additionally at possibility of receive the 3.0-litre diesel engine, the place this would possibly perchance additionally also be sold alongside the present PHEV version of the Cannon Alpha.

Efficiency of the original diesel engine is anticipated to be elevated than the present 2.4-litre’s 135kW/480Nm outputs, whereas additionally reducing gas economy and CO2 emissions. Within the Tank 300, the 2.4-litre consumes 7.8L/100km in ADR blended making an are trying out.

Whereas the 3.0-litre engine is at possibility of be essentially the most important ability diesel GWM will provide for the foreseeable future, development work continues on a 4.0-litre petrol V8 powertrain that’s below consideration for Australia.

The V8 will possible be teamed with a hybrid machine to make its emissions extra manageable, and GWM has foreshadowed a “militia-grade” extensive off-avenue model will possible be revealed soon. That 4 wheel drive will almost definitely be the debut platform for the V8 engine.

Beneath NVES, carmakers that sell too many excessive-CO2 vehicles (comparable to pure diesel and petrol fashions) are penalised — nonetheless NVES penalties would possibly perchance additionally also be balanced out with credits effectively generated by the sale of EVs and PHEVs.

“GWM is effectively positioned not finest to take care of nonetheless to thrive in this original generation,” acknowledged GWM Australia head of promoting Steve Maciver.

GWM’s gross sales of PHEV fashions below its Haval, Tank and Cannon lineups, as well to BEVs below the Ora sign, are anticipated to position it into NVES credit score territory.