GWM has a V8 on the way, and a Tank SUV could be first

V8 fans might soon have an unexpected new name to watch. GWM is developing eight-cylinder power, and the company has identified New Zealand and Australia as markets with potential interest.

GWM Australia and New Zealand chief operating officer John Kett has indicated that a V8-powered model is planned for 2027. He has also suggested it could arrive without hybrid assistance, although the company has not formally identified the first model or confirmed when a V8 would reach New Zealand showrooms.

A Tank SUV looks like a possible candidate. GWM has already confirmed that its flagship Tank 700 is planned to receive a V8, but it has not said that the 700 will be the first V8 model offered here.

What has GWM confirmed?

In a statement published by GWM, chairman Jack Wei said the Tank 700 is set to adopt a newly developed V8 in the future. He identified markets such as Australia and New Zealand as part of the thinking behind the engine.

That is an interesting direction for a brand also expanding its range of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. GWM appears keen to offer buyers different approaches, including a large engine for drivers who still want one.

The official announcement did not provide a launch date or confirm a specific market rollout for the Tank 700 V8. Its power, torque, fuel consumption, towing capacity and final specification also remain unknown.

Why the Tank 700?

The Tank 700 sits at the top of GWM's off-road SUV family overseas. Its bold styling and luxury ambitions would make it an attention-grabbing addition above the Tank 300 and Tank 500 already offered in New Zealand.

The name has also been connected to GWM's V8 plans directly by the company. That makes it a model worth watching, but it is still important to separate the global plan from a confirmed local launch. GWM has not announced an NZ price or said the first regional V8 will definitely be a Tank 700.

For Kiwi drivers who enjoy big off-roaders, the possibility of another eight-cylinder choice is welcome. What matters just as much will be how any eventual model handles everyday use, towing, servicing and fuel costs.

What about hybrid power?

Kett's more recent comments suggest the first regional V8 may not have hybrid assistance. The final configuration of the first model and the specification for New Zealand have not been announced, so there is still room for those details to change.

GWM has also discussed a separate GF supercar with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo hybrid V8. That is a different project, and its engine details should not be assumed to apply to a future Tank SUV.

For now, GWM's message is enough to get people talking: a V8 is in the pipeline, and the company is considering markets like ours. We will bring you the details when the first vehicle, pricing and NZ timing are confirmed.

Images: GWM. Overseas Tank 700 vehicles are pictured for context; they are not confirmed as the forthcoming NZ V8 model.