In addition to a twin-turbocharged petrol V8 for its upcoming supercar – mechanical components of which have been revealed, along with the name ‘GF’ ahead of a 2027 reveal – a separate petrol V8 will power the current flagship of GWM’s Tank lineup, 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 potentially share some components and may both be available with and without hybrid and plug-in hybrid systems, they’ve been developed for two very different use cases.
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“This is completely opposite to the current environment or trend in China; it does not fit the Chinese market,” Mr Wei continued.
“We developed this V8 to meet the needs of more global users, in markets such as Australia and New Zealand.”
GWM has stopped short of confirming launch timing for any market, and hasn’t explicitly confirmed the Tank 700 V8 for Australia – though it has hinted strongly the vehicle will come here.
It’s understood GWM may wait for an update or a next-generation version of the large, body-on-frame SUV, which entered production back in 2024.
CarExpert understands GWM Australia is looking to secure a plug-in hybrid V8 for this updated or new model, skipping the existing powertrains on offer in the Chinese-market Tank 700 lineup and avoiding a non-electrified version of the new V8.
Currently, the Tank 700 is offered with a choice of a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine offering 260kW of power and 560Nm of torque, or 385kW/800Nm Hi4-T and 720kW/1375Nm Hi4-Z plug-in hybrid powertrains which also use the V6.
The V8 powertrain is intended to operate primarily as an EV at low speeds, with the engine kicking in for higher-load conditions like towing and off-roading.
V8s are rare in China, but GWM was working on a full-size pickup to rival the Ram 1500, Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 in the US. However, GWM put its plans to enter the US market on hold, and it’s unclear what has happened with this model.
It’s understood the V8 was being developed for this application, and the Tank 700 is the most logical application among GWM’s existing models – and the only vehicle in which it’s believed to fit.
“As part of this broader strategy, the Tank 700 V8 represents a key step in expanding GWM’s high-output powertrain offering, enabling the brand to respond to demand in markets where large-capacity engines continue to resonate, such as Australia and New Zealand,” GWM Australia said in a press release today.
“It also reinforces the company’s strategy to invest in a diverse range of powertrain solutions aligned with satisfying the evolving customer demand across key international markets.”
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