Great Wall Motors (GWM) has confirmed a new 3.0L turbo-diesel engine will debut in Australia this September, exclusively powering the Tank 500 SUV and Cannon Alpha utility. Bucking the wider industry trend towards powertrain downsizing and electrification, the large-capacity diesel aims to satisfy local demand for effortless towing and long-distance touring.
The new four-cylinder powertrain delivers 170kW of power and 620Nm of torque, representing a significant increase of 35kW and 140Nm over the current 2.4-litre four-cylinder diesel it replaces in the Cannon Alpha. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission developed in-house, both models retain a maximum braked towing capacity of 3500kg.
In terms of market context, GWM’s new engine matches the displacement of the Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50, which currently utilise the only other 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel in the mainstream segment. However, the GWM unit significantly outmuscles the Isuzu’s 140kW and 450Nm outputs. Interestingly, it also offers more torque than the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 in the Ford Ranger (184kW/600Nm).
Despite the increased displacement, GWM claims combined fuel consumption figures of just 7.1L/100km for the Tank 500 and 7.3L/100km for the Cannon Alpha. These impressive economy claims will prove vital in mitigating fleet penalties under the incoming Australian New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which heavily targets high-emitting off-road vehicles.
From a packaging perspective, the larger engine will inevitably impact the vehicle’s mass. The existing Cannon Alpha 2.4-litre diesel already registers a hefty kerb weight of 2489kg, while the Tank 500 hybrid sits at a substantial 2605kg. The integration of the 3.0-litre diesel and its associated cooling hardware could push these figures higher, potentially impacting payload capacities, depending on final GVM limits.
Following six months of local validation testing focusing on powertrain calibration and thermal management, Australia has been selected as the first global market to receive the new engine.
GWM has confirmed the 3.0-litre unit will remain exclusive to the flagship Tank 500 and Cannon Alpha nameplates from September, with no current plans announced to introduce the powertrain to the smaller Tank 300 SUV or the regular Cannon ute range.
