GWM’s new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine will make its global debut in Australia when it joins the Chinese brand’s Tank 500 and Cannon Alpha line-ups in showrooms.

Speaking to assembled media at a GWM roundtable, the brand’s local marketing boss, Steve McIver, confirmed the big four-cylinder would make its global debut in Australia in the third-quarter of this year.

“We will have the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel joining the Tank 500 and Cannon Alpha range from Q3,” said McIver. “That will be a global debut of that powertrain into the models here within Australia… emphasising the importance of the Australian and New Zealand markets to global GWM operations.”

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While details remain scarce, it’s expected that power outputs will grow over the current 2.4-litre’s 135kW/480Nm, making it one of the most powerful four-cylinder turbo-diesels in the Australia market.

The Tank 500 large SUV and Cannon Alpha dual-cab ute are  currently offered with 2.0-litre 255kW petrol hybrid and 300kW petrol plug-in hybrid powertrains, the latter also available with a 135kW 2.4-litre turbo-diesel.

It’s expected the smaller Cannon dual-cab ute will continue with the smaller diesel engine. However, the line-up will be bolstered by the addition of GWM’s Hi4-T plug-in hybrid powertrain.

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“The addition of plug-in hybrid into Cannon [is] a hugely important car for us in the country’s second biggest segment,” said McIver.

While pricing is still to be confirmed, the GWM Cannon plug-in hybrid could become Australia’s most-affordable PHEV dual-cab, going up against the likes of BYD Shark 6 and Ford Ranger PHEV in the rapidly-growing segment.