V6-powered GWM Cannon Performance wants to fight Ranger Raptor

The Tank 700 wasn’t the only vehicle GWM revealed at the 2023 Auto Guangzhou. Revealed alongside the go-anywhere, plug-in hybrid SUV is the GWM Cannon Performance, and from its namesake, it’s a cut above your usual Cannon pickup truck.

In case you haven’t noticed it yet, this beast of a pickup truck comes with a more rugged look thanks to several enhancements. It gets chunky off-road tires wrapped in unique 18-inch alloy wheels, an air snorkel, and a 12,500 lbs (or 5669 kg) power winch.

Also worth mentioning is its versatile cargo bed. It has a groundbreaking design of a 6:4 split, a flat-opening tailgate, 24-matrix style anchor points to hold precious cargo, and a 220V power supply when you need to charge or power certain devices.

At the heart of the Cannon Performance is a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine that’s assisted by a 48V mild hybrid system. The result is a whopping 353 PS and a generous 500 Nm of torque. The engine is then paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission complete with a 4WD system. Aside from the V6 motor, there’s also a 2.4-liter turbo-diesel engine available that generates 186 PS with 480 Nm of torque.

Speaking of 4WD, the Cannon Performance comes with one heck of a 4WD system. The pickup is fitted with a BorgWarner TOD intelligent transfer case with a torque capacity of up to 1,900 Nm. It also has an integrated mechanical lock structure with triple locks.

You read right, it has mechanical front and rear differential locks, as well as an electronic lock to make it capable of even the toughest of terrains. If those are not enough, it has 9 terrain modes to choose from; Standard, Sport, Economy, Snow, Mud, Sand, Expert, 4L, and Rock. Other key highlights of the pickup truck include K-Man nitrogen shock absorbers, a ground clearance of 239mm, a water-wading depth of 900mm, and a rear cargo rack.

Step inside and the Cargo Performance welcomes occupants into a high-tech and luxurious interior despite its utilitarian nature. In fact, it’s actually quite similar to the Tank 500’s cabin with its distinct center console and massive 14.6 touchscreen media display. There’s even a large 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver.

It’s fitted with black leather seats as standard that come with yellow accents, 8-way power-adjustable front seats with heating/cooling function, as well as memory function for the driver’s side. Also worth highlighting are the rear seats which are electrically adjustable - a first in its class as claimed by GWM.

There’s no word yet if GWM plans on bringing the Cannon Performance here in the Philippines. But with the Cannon pickup truck becoming more popular, perhaps they are already studying the possibility of having it available in other markets besides the PRC. We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled (and our fingers crossed) for any new developments.