GWM is preparing to introduce one of the most powerful diesel engines yet offered in a mainstream dual-cab ute, with its all-new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel producing 170kW and a considerable 620Nm of torque.
Expressions of interest have now opened ahead of the engine’s global debut in New Zealand and Australia this September. Initially, it will be offered exclusively in updated versions of the GWM Cannon Alpha ute and seven-seat Tank 500 SUV.
The headline figure is undoubtedly torque. At 620Nm, the new four-cylinder produces 20Nm more than the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engines currently offered in the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok, both of which develop 600Nm.
That makes the new GWM engine the highest-torque diesel currently announced for New Zealand’s mainstream dual-cab ute market. It also places the Tank 500 ahead of direct seven-seat rivals including the 600Nm Ford Everest V6 and 500Nm Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. The larger and considerably more expensive Land Cruiser 300 remains above it, producing 700Nm from its 3.3-litre twin-turbo-diesel V6.
Peak power is slightly lower than the 184kW produced by the Ranger and Amarok V6 diesels, but the GWM’s additional torque should be particularly relevant when towing, climbing steep terrain or travelling with a heavily loaded vehicle.
The 3.0-litre engine represents a substantial step forward from the existing 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel used in the GWM line-up. Outputs increase by 35kW and 140Nm, rising from 135kW and 480Nm to 170kW and 620Nm.
It will be paired with GWM’s in-house-developed nine-speed automatic transmission, with the powertrain calibrated around towing, long-distance touring and low-speed off-road performance.
Both the Cannon Alpha and Tank 500 will carry a 3500kg braked towing capacity. For the Tank 500, that is an important improvement over the current model and places it alongside the established towing benchmark for large ladder-frame SUVs.
Despite the increase in engine capacity and performance, GWM is claiming combined fuel consumption of 7.1L/100km for the Tank 500 and 7.3L/100km for the Cannon Alpha. Those figures have been recorded using the NEDC testing procedure and should primarily be treated as a comparison between vehicles rather than an indication of real-world consumption.
The decision to launch the engine in New Zealand and Australia before any other global market reflects the continued importance of diesel-powered utes and four-wheel drives in this part of the world.
While electrified powertrains are becoming increasingly common, buyers throughout New Zealand and Australia continue to demand larger-capacity diesel engines for towing, remote travel and commercial use. The introduction of the new engine gives GWM a more convincing answer to that demand while allowing it to compete directly with the V6 diesels offered by Ford and Volkswagen.
The engine has undergone more than six months of engineering and validation work across Australian roads and environmental conditions. Testing has been led by GWM ANZ Product Engineering and Vehicle Dynamics Manager Rob Trubiani, with development covering durability, drivability, towing performance and powertrain calibration.
Its arrival will also broaden an increasingly diverse GWM powertrain range. Across its New Zealand line-up, the company now offers petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, with up to eight new or significantly updated models expected to reach the local market before the end of 2026.
The new diesel will sit below GWM’s Hi4-T plug-in hybrid powertrain in outright performance. However, for buyers regularly towing over long distances or travelling beyond easy access to charging infrastructure, the combination of 620Nm, a conventional diesel powertrain and 3500kg towing capacity may prove more relevant than a larger headline power figure.
Final pricing, specifications and model availability for the updated Tank 500 and Cannon Alpha will be confirmed closer to their September launch. Expressions of interest are now open through GWM New Zealand.
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