China is dominating the EV game, but is not giving up on combustion engines yet. Great Wall Motor recently unveiled a twin-turbo 4.0-liter gas V-8 for high-end vehicles and is also developing a 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel. At the top of its lineup will be a supercar, which GWM claims has been developing for the past five years. Although the company is virtually unknown in the performance car world, it apparently has Ferrari in its sights.
In an interview posted on China’s social media platform Weibo, the automaker’s Chief Technology Officer boldly claimed the mystery sports car will be better than a Ferrari. However, according to CnEVPost, Wu Huixiao also admitted that GWM is learning from its rivals in its ambitious attempt to outdo the Prancing Horse. A high-performance model would be a major departure for a company best known for pickup trucks and SUVs. You may also recognize GWM’s sub-brand Ora and its oddly named Funky Cat electric hatchback, which was later rebranded as the Ora 03.
Photo by: Great Wall Motors
Great Wall Motor’s new V-8 engine
Photo by: Great Wall Motors
Great Wall Motor’s new V-8 engine
During the interview with a Chinese blogger, Wu revealed that GWM brought a Nürburgring expert to China to gain insights into the challenging German track. However, development hasn’t been without setbacks. Wu acknowledged issues with carbon fiber tub production and said cost reduction remains a challenge, which is one of the reasons the project has yet to be officially revealed, despite being five years in the making.
As for what will power the supercar, the V-8 mentioned earlier seems unlikely. Wu suggested it’s too large, without confirming whether GWM is adapting a smaller existing engine or building a new one entirely. The company currently offers a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 in the Tank 700 as part of a plug-in hybrid system delivering 516 horsepower. There’s also the Tank 500 Hi4-Z with a bonkers 851 hp from a PHEV setup that combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors.
The mention of Ferrari’s SF90 Stradale hints that GWM’s new model will likely be a plug-in hybrid as well. China already has a growing segment of fully electric performance cars, including the BYD Yangwang U9 and GAC Aion Hyper SSR. To compete with both domestic and international rivals, Wu claimed GWM “must build a car that will spike adrenaline, cause an explosion of hormones, and dopamine.”
Photo by: Yangwang
BYD Yangwang U9
GAC Aion Hyptec SSR
Interestingly, Chinese reports claim GWM Chairman Jack Wei was spotted driving a Ferrari SF90, reinforcing that the company is aiming high. Still, even if the car ends up being faster and more affordable, it won’t carry the prestige of something from Maranello.
Then again, that might not matter much in today’s Chinese market, where local brands are gaining ground by offering tech-packed EVs with longer ranges, often at significantly lower prices than their Western counterparts. Outside of China, a high-end sports car would be a tough sell, even at a far lower price. We don’t see many Ferrari loyalists canceling their orders for a GWM, BYD, etc.
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Source: WeiboCnEVPost