Hundreds of millions of Yuan later, and claiming they have managed to overcome challenges other performance automakers haven’t, Great Wall Motor (GWM) is now planning on rivalling the likes of Ferrari. Despite its dominance in the electric vehicle race, China isn’t ready to put the internal combustion engine out to pasture just yet.
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GWM, better known for bakkies and burly SUVs, has unveiled a new twin-turbo 4.0-litre petrol V8 and is developing a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel — signs that the old-school grunt still has a place in its future for many global markets, like South Africa. But that isn’t exactly new news since being revealed at the Shanghai Auto Show, the real headline here is that the Chinese automaker is cooking up a Ferrari-beating supercar.
Related: GWM Debuts New Electrified V8 Engine at Shanghai Auto Show
In an eyebrow-raising interview posted on Weibo (China’s version of X), GWM’s chief technology officer Wu Huixiao claimed the still-secret sports car would be ‘better than a Ferrari’. Bold words from a brand whose most recognisable product abroad might be the Funky Cat hatchback. But Huixiao insists GWM’s Baoding HQ has been quietly developing the project for five years, studying rivals closely.
GWM has reportedly brought in Nürburgring specialists to advise on chassis dynamics. But it hasn’t been smooth sailing and Huixiao admitted to difficulties with producing the car’s carbon fibre tub, and escalating costs have delayed its debut. The powertrain also remains a mystery. That new V8 is reportedly too large for the application, leaving options open: Either an adapted smaller engine or something entirely new.
Related: GWM Unveils New Logo During Future Roadmap Unveiling at Shanghai Auto Show
With leaps and bounds made in electrification, some early speculation points towards a plug-in hybrid setup. The goal of this according to Huixiao is a car that ‘spikes adrenaline, causes an explosion of hormones, and dopamine’. All PR jargon at the expense of some precarious Chinese to English translations aside, it seems as though the next segment the Chinese automaker has set its sights on is the holy grail of them all. It may be a tall order expecting buyers wanting pinnacle performance to trade their Maranello steed in exchange for one from Baoding, but time will tell if the Chinese automaker can put its money where its mouth is…
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