GWM is the latest carmaker to head off the Ford Ranger's entry into the plug-in hybrid ute segment in New Zealand with the imminent arrival of the PHEV version of its Cannon Alpha that pairs GMW's familiar 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and a big 37.1kWh battery.
But now the company has taken a swipe at the BYD Shark 6 too by increasing the all-electric range of the big Alpha, as well as some sharp introductory pricing that starts at $67,990, undercutting the $69,990 Shark 6 while also including a free home charger.
GWM also claims a big towing advantage over the BYD, with a full 3500kg tow rating for the Alpha compared to the BYD's 2500kg maximum, albeit with a lower 685kg payload weight. The Shark can carry 790kg, while traditional ICE diesel utes can generally carry around 900 to 1000kg in their trays.
While that puts the Cannon Alpha ahead of the BYD in terms of towing, it needs to be remembered that, when fully loaded with a 3500kg load on a trailer, the Alpha's Gross Combined Mass (GCM) will exceed the 6000kg threshold that requires its operator to have a Class 2 heavy vehicle license, as it has a 2810kg kerb weight on its own.
In addition to pricing, the company has also revealed features and specification of the Cannon Alpha PHEV range with the ute being available in two model grades; Lux and Ultra.
Both models use the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine and hybrid system hooked up to a 9-speed automatic transmission delivering 300kW and 750Nm to the wheels, with a claimed NEDC-rated average combined fuel consumption of 1.7l/100km when fully charged or 7.9l//100km when operating at a "low state of charge".
The 37.1kWh traction battery now provides 115km electric-only range (up on the originally announced 110km) and a combined overall range of 1060km, but these are calculated using the outdated NEDC testing regime that is typically far more optimistic than WLTP figures.
The Lux kicks off the range at $67,990 and is equipped with front and rear ventilated disc brakes, a rear locking differential, 18-inch black alloy wheels, auto LED headlights with DRLs and electric levelling, auto high beam, LED taillights, matt black exterior trim, keyless entry and start, rear privacy glass, a spray-on tub liner and a one-piece tailgate.
Inside, the Lux gets faux leather seats with 6-way electric adjustability for the driver and 4-way electric adjustability for the front passenger, dual-zone climate control, manual sliding and reclining rear seats, a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 6-speaker audio system, voice command functionality, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, automatic rain-sensing front wipers and a multi-function steering wheel with paddle shifters.
Standard safety and assist technology includes adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, tyre pressure monitoring, trailer sway mitigation and a comprehensive suite of collision mitigation systems including lane keep assist, lane departure warning, AEB junction assist, front collision warning for pedestrians and cyclists, traffic sign recognition, traffic jam assist and a driver fatigue monitoring system.
The Ultra will land at $74,990 and adds a front diff lock, a 60/40 split tailgate, a rear sliding window, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front and rear seats with 8-way (driver) and 6-way (passenger) electrical adjustment and a massage function for the front seats, electric reclining rear seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient interior lighting, a 10-speaker Infinity audio system, front and rear wireless phone chargers, a head-up display, and an auto parking and reversing assistant.
The Cannon Alpha comes with a 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty and 5 years of roadside assistance, while GWM NZ says that the introductory pricing will last until June 30th, 2025, when the Alpha PHEV will revert to its standard pricing of $69,990 for the Lux and $76,990 for the Ultra.
