2024 GWM Cannon Alpha: Bigger ute coming to Australia with hybrid & diesel power

That timing will make the Cannon Alpha the first hybrid ute in Australia, beating the new Ford Ranger PHEV to market by a few months at least, along with others like the hybrid HiLux and the recently teased BYD plug-in hybrid ute.

As a big brother to the Cannon already sold in Australia, the Cannon Alpha measures 5440mm long (+30mm over the Cannon), 1991mm wide (+57mm) and 1924mm tall (+38mm), rolling on a 3350mm wheelbase (+120mm).

Ford’s F-150 remains a bigger unit, with a 3694mm wheelbase in its SWB form, but the Cannon could prove a welcome ‘in between’ option.

Of more interest to some buyers, however, might be the other option we’ll be offered: a 2.0-litre turbo petrol hybrid engine, its combustion and electric motors combining to deliver 255kW and a huge 648Nm. On their own, the motors produce 180kW/380Nm and 78kW/269Nm respectively.

Keen readers will recognise this as the same mill that powers the related GWM Tank 500, which made its Australian debut in March – which means you can read 4X4 Australia’s take on that petrol-electric hybrid system at the story linked below.

Review

GWM expands it Tank 4x4 range with the luxurious 500 wagon

7 / 10 Score

Both the diesel and the petrol hybrid engine are mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission developed in-house, and GWM quotes a braked towing capacity of 3500kg for both powertrains.

Like the Tank 500, the Cannon Alpha offers three driving modes, along with locking front and rear differentials with a Borg Warner full-time, dual-range transfer case.

Inside, the GWM Cannon Alpha features a massive 14.6-inch main screen and a 12.3-inch driver display, along with 10-speaker Infinity audio, wireless phone charging, and heated/ventilated/massaging front seats trimmed with Nappa leather in higher-grade models.

Full details will be released in the lead-up to the Cannon Alpha’s mid-2024 Australian launch.