More utes coming from China amid massive expansion plans for Australia

Chinese car maker Great Wall Motors (GWM) is planning to have one of the broadest ranges of new utes in Australia before the end of 2023, Drive understands – which may include models with the option of hybrid or V6 power.

GWM currently offers a single pick-up model in Australia, simply named the Ute – a dual-cab-only, two- or four-wheel-drive budget rival for the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.

But Drive understands it is preparing to add two more standalone models later this year – led by the Shanhai, a luxury model with turbo petrol V6 and hybrid power, which is priced from the equivalent of $60,000 to $80,000 drive-away in China.

It would be joined the King Kong, a larger version of the current Ute with diesel power aimed at commercial buyers, which in China is priced from the equivalent of $26,000 to $34,000 drive-away.

Both are due in local showrooms in late 2023 – pending any delays, and the green light from head office. It's unclear if they would be renamed for sale in Australia.

Whereas the likes of Ford offer one model for each size category in the ute market – such as the "mid-size" Ranger and full-size F-Series range – GWM in China is rolling out a range of HiLux and Ranger-sized utes split into two categories.

The first translates from Chinese as "passenger leisure" – aimed primarily at private buyers and families, rather than work sites – and includes today's GWM Ute (sold in China as the 'Cannon'), a dual-cab rival for the HiLux, Ranger and Isuzu D-Max.

But to capitalise on demand for top-of-the-range utes – with more power than today's diesel GWM Ute – the range is set to expand in Australia with the Shanhai (or Shanhai Cannon in China), offering more luxury, and available turbo-petrol V6 or hybrid power in overseas markets.

Related to the Toyota Prado-sized Tank 500 SUV offered overseas, the Shanhai is about as long as a current GWM Ute – but takes up more space in the lane, at close to two metres wide, and has a larger passenger cabin with more technology.

It's available in China with a choice of three engines – led by a 3.0-litre single-turbo petrol V6 developing 260kW and 500Nm, channelled through a nine-speed automatic transmission and permanent four-wheel drive.

If the V6 comes to Australia, it would be the second turbo-petrol six-cylinder ute in its class – following the Ford Ranger Raptor performance pick-up, with a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 quoting 292kW/583Nm.

Also available on the Shanhai in China is a new 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder with 135kW and 480Nm – while hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions are due to follow. It's unclear if these would come to Australia.

The Shanhai is pitched as the luxury model in China, with a giant 14.6-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch widescreen instrument cluster, heated steering wheel, leather seats, electric side steps, power rear seats, and a suite of advanced safety technology.

There are also three differential locks, an 800mm wading depth, and a permanent 4WD system for off-road fans, plus a 3300kg towing capacity, and coil-spring rear suspension.

It also comes with a clever tailgate that can fold down in one piece, as per most utes, or split into two side-hinged 'barn doors', akin to some full-size US pick-ups.

But the luxuries would come at a cost, as the Shanhai in China – with turbo V6 petrol power – costs 55 to 80 per cent more than the flagship variant of what's sold as the GWM Ute in Australia.

Given a top-of-the-range GWM Ute Cannon-X costs $45,490 drive-away in Australia, the Shanhai could cost more than $80,000 drive-away in flagship V6 form – more than any other petrol or diesel-powered Chinese car in Australia (but not electric).

Diesel versions of the Shanhai are cheaper – but even the most affordable model still costs 37 per cent more than a flagship GWM Ute, or the equivalent of $62,000 drive-away in Australia.

While the regular GWM Ute and luxury Shanhai ute are aimed at families or higher-end buyers, Drive understands GWM Haval Australia also plans to add a workhorse model from its Chinese parent company's second category of utes, "fashionable commercial" (translated).

Known as the King Kong Cannon, the third ute model for Australia is pitched as a cheaper option for work buyers, trading some luxury mod-cons from today's GWM Ute for improved capability in the tray, and a lower price.

Prices in China range from the equivalent of $26,000 to $34,000 drive-away, when using Australia's GWM Ute as a benchmark – which locally costs $35,990 to $45,490 drive-away.

In China, the King Kong is available in a choice of standard and long wheelbases, allowing up to 1820mm of load length in the tray.

That exceeds the circa-1450mm to 1570mm offered by the GWM Ute, Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, and rivals – and competes with other long-wheelbase "mid-size" utes, including the LDV T60 Mega Tub (approx. 1800mm) and SsangYong Musso XLV (1625mm).

Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder shared with the GWM Ute in Australia – developing 110kW/330Nm or 120kW/400Nm – or a 140kW/360Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder available on the standard GWM Ute in China.

A locking rear differential, selectable four-wheel drive, and four-wheel disc brakes are fitted. There are no details of towing capacity or suspension configuration.

GWM's Chinese website shows the King Kong is currently available only with a six-speed manual transmission – however an automatic version was revealed last year, and is soon to join the range.

Figures supplied to Drive by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries show 14.4 per cent of all utes sold in Australia last year came with a clutch pedal – and only 12.6 per cent of 4x4 utes sold.

The King Kong Ute also lacks any form of advanced safety, such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist or blind-spot monitoring, which are standard on all current GWM Ute variants in Australia.

But this is likely to be resolved for Australia, as by the time the King Kong launches locally in late 2023 – barring any further delays – AEB will be mandatory for all newly-introduced utes with gross vehicle masses (GVMs) below 3.5 tonnes.

GWM could buy itself another eight months by increasing the King Kong's gross vehicle mass beyond 3.5 tonnes, classifying it as a light truck – for which AEB is not mandatory for newly-launched vehicles until November 2023, rather than March.

However by March 2025 AEB will become mandatory for all commercial vehicles, irrespective of size or GVM – so the technology would need to be fitted eventually.

Other features missing from the King Kong Ute in China include a widescreen digital instrument cluster (only a small 3.5-inch display), front parking sensors, and large wheels (17-inch alloys are the largest available).

Pending any delays, the GWM Shanhai Ute and King Kong Ute – as they are known in China – are due in Australian showrooms in late 2023, Drive understands.

Confirmation of the utes' arrival from GWM Haval Australia head office – including pricing and local specifications – are due at a later date.