In addition to a twin-turbocharged petrol V8 for the upcoming supercar – whose mechanical components, along with the ‘GF’ name, were revealed ahead of its unveiling in 2027 – a separate petrol V8 will power the current flagship of GWM’s Tank range, the Tank 700.
“In the future, the Tank 700 will also use a V8 engine. The supercar uses a high-performance V8, while the Tank 700 uses a normal V8,” said GWM chairman Jack Wei.
While these V8s may share some components and could be available with or without hybrid and plug-in hybrid systems, they were designed for two very different use cases.
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“This is completely contrary to the current environment or trend in China; it does not suit the Chinese market,” Mr Wei continued.
“We designed this V8 to meet the needs of more global users in markets such as Australia and New Zealand.”
GWM hasn’t confirmed a launch date for any market and hasn’t specifically confirmed the Tank 700 V8 for Australia – although it’s been strongly hinted that the vehicle will be coming here.
It is understood that GWM may be waiting for an update or a next generation of the large body-on-frame SUV, which went into production back in 2024.
Daily Sparkz understands that GWM Australia is looking to secure a plug-in hybrid V8 for this updated or new model, forgoing the existing powertrains offered in the Chinese market Tank 700 range and avoiding a non-electrified version of the new V8.
Currently, the Tank 700 is offered with either a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with 260kW of power and 560Nm of torque, or with 385kW/800Nm Hi4-T and 720kW/1375Nm Hi4-Z plug-in hybrid powertrains, which also use the V6.
The V8 powertrain is intended to be used primarily as an electric vehicle at low speeds, while the engine kicks in during higher load conditions such as towing and off-road driving.
V8 engines are rare in China, but GWM was working on a full-size pickup truck that would compete in the United States with the Ram 1500, Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500. However, GWM has put its plans to enter the US market on hold and it is unclear what happened to this model.
The V8 is believed to have been designed for this application, and the Tank 700 is the most logical application among the existing GWM models – and the only vehicle it is likely to fit into.
“As part of this broader strategy, the Tank 700 V8 represents an important step in expanding GWM’s high-performance powertrain offering and enables the brand to respond to demand in markets where large displacement engines continue to find favor, such as Australia and New Zealand,” GWM Australia said in a press release today.
“It also strengthens the company’s strategy to invest in a diverse range of propulsion solutions designed to meet evolving customer demand in key international markets.”
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