GWM Australia says it will launch at least one V8-powered model in Australia in 2027, and that the engine will not be a hybrid. The company has not confirmed which model will get it. Media reports have linked the V8 to both the Tank 700 and the larger Tank 800, and no pricing, outputs or specifications have been announced for Australia.
What GWM has said
The latest comments come from John Kett, chief operating officer of GWM Australia and New Zealand, in an interview with CarExpert published on 6 November 2026.
“Certainly you’ll see at least one V8 next year,” Kett said. Asked whether it would include hybrid technology, he replied: “No, the V8 will be V8.”
These were comments in a media interview. GWM Australia has not issued a formal announcement with model details.
1 / 4
Chinese-market Tank 700 Hi4-Z product image; not a confirmed Australian V8 model.
Tank 700 or Tank 800
CarExpert wrote that Kett appeared to be referring to the Tank 700 off-road SUV. That was the publication’s interpretation, not a statement from GWM.
Earlier comments point the other way. In July 2026, Kett told Drive: “I think it’ll arrive first as a Tank 800.” He added: “It will come as a combustion V8, I think, in the Tank 800.”
According to CarExpert, GWM global chairman Jack Wei told media at the Beijing motor show in May that “in the future, the Tank 700 will also use a V8 engine”. He said it was developed for markets including Australia and New Zealand. If accurate, that points to a V8 Tank 700 for some markets, but not to it being the first V8 GWM sells here.
Question | Status |
|---|---|
A GWM V8 model in Australia in 2027 | Stated by GWM Australia’s COO in a media interview |
No hybrid assistance | Stated by Kett (“the V8 will be V8”) |
Which model | Not confirmed. Tank 800 suggested by Kett in July; Tank 700 inferred by CarExpert in November |
Price, power, torque, towing | Not announced for Australia |
Where it would sit
A V8 model would be sold alongside the current Tank 300 and Tank 500 range. GWM has not announced how it would be positioned in Australia.
We will update this story when GWM confirms the model, timing and specification. Our GWM range guide covers the models on sale now.