GWM Cannon Alpha hybrid and diesel ute launch timing confirmed

The long-expected 2024 GWM Cannon Alpha will arrive in Australia mid-year with a powerful, segment-first series/parallel petrol-electric hybrid powertrain as well as traditional turbo-diesel power, GWM Australia has confirmed.

The Cannon Alpha is bigger and is expected to be more expensive than the existing range of Chinese-made GWM Ute Cannon pick-ups that have been on sale in Australia since 2021.

However, pricing for the multi-grade Cannon Alpha line-up won’t be announced until closer to its release in a couple of months or so.

While the oil-burning 2024 GWM Cannon Alpha’s 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel offers 135kW of power and 480Nm of torque – up from the Cannon’s 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel – it is the hybrid that is the performance king.

The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol hybrid’s combined outputs of 255kW and 648Nm make it only slightly less powerful but torquier than the 292kW/583Nm turbo-petrol V6 in the Ford Ranger Raptor desert racer.

While no fuel economy numbers have been released for the Alpha, the recently-launched GWM Tank 500 off-road SUV claims 8.5L/100km using the same powertrain. Our first drive didn’t get anywhere near that number though.

Both engines mate with a nine-speed automatic transmission, a new all-terrain system with three drive modes, a BorgWarner transfer case with low-range ratios and locking front and rear diffs.

Crucially, both Cannon Alpha powertrains boast a full 3500kg braked towing capacity, but we’re still waiting on payload and gross combined mass details.

GWM is touting more interior space for the Cannon Alpha compared to the Cannon because of its larger size. It measures up at 5445mm long (+35mm), 1991mm wide (+57mm) and 1924mm high (+38mm). Wheelbase of 3350mm is also longer than the Cannon, by 120mm.

Other features highlighted by GWM in announcing the Alpha’s local arrival today include an innovative 60/40-split rear tailgate, which can be opened in two ways: A short press on the button on the rear tailgate provides access to the rear tub via the 60/40 opening, while a longer press on the same button opens the full tailgate.

Highlight features and technologies include a 14.6-inch infotainment touch-screen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 10-speaker Infinity audio, wireless phone charging and heated, ventilated and massaging front seats clad in Nappa leather (grade dependent).

While the Cannon Alpha debuts a plugless hybrid powertrain in the immensely popular dual-cab ute segment, it is not the first electrified ute to launch in Australia.

LDV has had the 4x2 battery-electric eT60 on sale since 2022 and, at the other end of the scale, Toyota is currently rolling out 48-volt mild-hybrid tech in some facelifted HiLux models.

A plug-in hybrid BYD dual-cab ute is expected to arrive later this year and the Ford Ranger PHEV in 2025.

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