GWM's New 620Nm Turbo-Diesel Is Coming — And WA Should Pay Attention

If you regularly haul a boat to Mandurah, run a tradie setup in the Pilbara, or just want a diesel that won't flinch on the drive from Perth to Esperance, GWM has something worth looking at. The Chinese brand is now taking expressions of interest for its new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, which debutes globally — right here in Australia and New Zealand — this September.

The new four-cylinder diesel slots into two models: the Tank 500 large seven-seat SUV and the Cannon Alpha dual-cab ute. For the Cannon Alpha, it replaces the existing 2.4-litre diesel. For the Tank 500, it's the first diesel option the model has ever had.

The Numbers That Matter for WA Driving

The new engine produces 170kW and 620Nm of torque. To put that in perspective, Ford's 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 in the Ranger and Everest makes 600Nm — so GWM is nudging ahead on torque, even if Ford holds a 14kW power advantage at 184kW.

For towing, both the Tank 500 and Cannon Alpha are rated at 3500kg braked capacity. That's enough for most boat and caravan setups popular with WA buyers heading up to Exmouth or across to the goldfields.

Fuel economy is where it gets genuinely useful. The Cannon Alpha diesel is rated at 7.3L/100km on the NEDC cycle, compared to 8.9L/100km for the outgoing 2.4-litre unit. With WA fuel prices the way they are, that gap adds up fast on long regional runs. The Tank 500 diesel comes in slightly lower at 7.1L/100km.

The engine pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive as standard across both models.

Built With Australian Conditions in Mind

GWM says Australia and New Zealand were chosen as the launch markets because of how important both countries are to their global strategy — and because local buyers kept asking for a bigger diesel. That's a fair read of the WA market, where demand for capable, long-range diesel vehicles hasn't softened.

The engine spent more than six months being validated locally, led by GWM ANZ's product engineering and vehicle dynamics manager Rob Trubiani. Testing covered towing, durability, off-road performance, and powertrain calibration across varied surfaces — the sort of conditions that mirror what WA drivers actually face between the Kimberley and the Great Southern.

At 3.0 litres displacement, the new four-cylinder matches the Isuzu D-Max and MU-X for engine size — but outmuscles both significantly. Isuzu's 3.0-litre makes 140kW and 450Nm by comparison.

For the Tank 500 specifically, the diesel replaces the existing 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid variants, which are being run out. GWM says CO2 emissions from the new diesel are expected to be broadly comparable to the outgoing hybrid.

Looking further ahead, GWM has confirmed the 3.0-litre diesel is designed to support future hybrid and plug-in hybrid applications, with electrified diesel models expected to enter production in China from early 2027.

Pricing and full specifications haven't been confirmed yet — those will land closer to the September launch. If you want to get in early, expressions of interest are open now through GWM Australia's website.