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GWM announces V8 plans

New GWM Tank 700 confirmed to feature V8 powertrain, possibly as soon as 2027

27 Apr 2026

GWM has confirmed that it will introduce a V8 engine in its forthcoming Tank 700 four-wheel drive, giving the Chinese car-maker yet another alternative in taking on established segment players like the Land Rover Defender, Nissan Patrol, and Toyota LandCrusier 300 Series. 
 
Making the announcement at this week’s Auto China 2026 motor show in Beijing, GWM chair Jack Wei said the offering is another bold step in expanding the manufacturer’s premium off-road portfolio, signalling the V8 as a potential addition for markets such as Australia and New Zealand. 
 
Speaking with Australian media in China, Mr Wei revealed that the Tank 700 is planned to adopt a “newly developed V8 engine”, extending GWM’s next-generation performance powertrain technologies beyond the already announced GF supercar, which is expected to be revealed next year. 
 
“In the future, the Tank 700 will also use a V8 engine. The (GF) supercar uses a high-performance V8, which the Tank 700 uses a normal V8,” he said, indicating that the powerplant will be developed in at least two different states of tune. 
 
“This is completely opposite to the current environment or trend in China; it does not fit the Chinese market. 
 
“We developed this V8 to meet the needs of more global users in markets such as Australia and New Zealand,” he confirmed. 
 
This confirmation builds on discussions first raised at Auto China 2025 in Shanghai, where the prospect of a V8 application in an SUV drew strong interest from Australian and New Zealand media. 
 
At the time, senior GWM management acknowledged both the level of demand and the growing appetite for a V8-powered premium SUV within the Tank brand outside of China. 
 
The announcement also signals a broader progression in GWM’s V8 strategy. 
 
In Beijing, GWM confirmed its GF supercar will feature a twin-turbocharged petrol-electric hybrid V8 displacing 4.0 litres in a hint to potential Tank 700 buyers of what is to come. 
 
The Chinese manufacturer said the V8 is part of a “broader strategy” that will enable it to more effectively respond to the demands of markets where large capacity engines continue to resonate with buyers. 
 
Speaking on the matter previously, GWM head of right-hand drive markets James Yang said the V8 engine is “definitely under consideration for RHD markets” while pointing to technical details that look likely to rival the best in the world. 
 
GoAuto understands the GWM V8 feature an overhead camshaft and “hot vee” turbocharged arrangement like that used by European brands such as Mercedes-AMG and BMW M. 
 
It is a combination that offers a shorter air path from the turbocharger back into the intake, reducing turbo lag, while also helping to keep charged intake air at a comparatively lower temperature than in traditional setups. 
 
The arrangement also offers packaging benefits, even when combined with an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission. 
 
At this point in time, there are no timing or market-specific rollout plans announced. 
 
However, Mr Wei’s conformation provides what GWM Australia and New Zealand executives say is a “clear indication of the future direction of the Tank brand” and one that “reinforces the company’s strategy to invest in a diverse range of powertrain solutions aligned with satisfying evolving customer demand across key international markets”.

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