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New V8 won't be exclusive to China and reportedly, not to left-hand-drive-only markets either.
GWM's new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 will be limited to certain Tank brand models initially, and have at least one electric motor and battery pack for a plug-in hybrid configuration. Image: GWM
In one of the biggest surprises of the Shanghai International Motor Show, Great Wall Motors (GWM) showcased its first-ever V8 engine destined for certain Tank models only.
Unveiled alongside an ultra hardcore off-road version of the Tank 300, called the Hooke Trail after a well-known off-road track in the western region of the People’s Republic, the twin-turbo bent-eight displaces 4.0-litres and will be augmented by an electric motor and battery pack for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) configuration.
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While no further details were divulged, the powertrain has been mentioned as possibly making its way into export markets regardless of where the respective Tank model is steered from.
This is according to GWM executive James Yang, who told Australia’s drive.com.au on the sidelines of the engines’ unveiling, “[this] V8 is something that is definitely under consideration, and for right-hand-drive markets, it’s definitely something we are still considering.”
Once in production, the V8 will complete GWM’s augmenting of electric hardware with various cylinder count combustion engines currently consisting of four and six under the Hi4-T and Hi4-Z plug-in hybrid banners.
At present, the former consists of two units; the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol combined with a 37.1-kWh battery pack for a total system out if 300kW/750Nm in the Tank 400, and the V6, which pairs a 3.0-litre turbo-petrol with the same size battery pack for a total of 385kW/800Nm in the Tank 700.
Introduced towards the end of last year in the Chinese-market Tank 500, the Hi4-Z, which has been confirmed for South Africa, uses a dual electric motor setup in combination with the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and a 59-kWh battery pack for a final output of 654kW/1 195Nm.
As it stands, speculation has alleged that while the V8 will produce more power and torque than any of the Hi4-T units, its stacking up against the Hi4-Z could yield even more grunt depending on the number of electric motors used.
Equally shrouded in mystery, the exhibited Tank 300 Hooke Trail, which reportedly sported the engine despite no confirmation by GWM, featured a longer bonnet and a series of chassis changes the Baoding-based brand also didn’t elaborate on.
Noticeable though is the live front axle in place of the standard model’s independent setup, chunkier alloy wheels wrapped in Cooper all-terrain tyres, different wheel arch extensions, redesigned front and rear bumpers and, reportedly, a significantly strengthened chassis.
Set to go on-sale in China within the coming months, expect more details about the Hooke Trail, as well as of the new engine, to emerge soon.
Additional information from drive.com.au and paultan.org.
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