Going Big in Beijing
Here’s what GWM has been up to.
Welcome to the Beijing Auto Show, a show so large with so many display halls that the Nasrec Expo Centre looks like a mere blip in comparison. Now that you have a reference of the scale (it may be a little exaggerated), join me at the GWM stand that took up half of one of these halls. There’s a lot happening at GWM, way more than what we see in our local market, but to kick us off, we’ll be focusing on what is confirmed to be making its way to South Africa.
Ora 5
After the launch of the Ora 03 back in November 2023, the Ora nameplate has gone quiet locally. Yes, I did have a chance to drive the 03 back then on Kyalami’s go-kart track, and while it ticked the box of being an affordable EV, it didn’t leave a lasting impression. That has all changed with the latest model, the Ora 5.
What’s exciting about the 5 is that we’ll see it in three drivetrain variants: a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, a hybrid with the same motor, and a full EV. It’s great to see it offered in an array of options to suit each individual’s taste in the South African market. It takes consumers’ preferences into account because we often find ourselves attracted to a car’s look and concept, but if the drivetrain isn’t right, we sadly steer clear. With the Ora 5, there are options and essentially an Ora for everyone.
As you can tell, at this point, I was excited about the car, and thankfully, we got to drive two of the variants mentioned above (the Hybrid and EV) on obstacle courses set up by GWM at one of its testing facilities. It isn’t real-world driving per se, but the courses were enough to gauge the car’s performance, how it drives, and how it feels dynamically. Two obstacles were set up to test the Ora 5: a straight-line acceleration test to a set of markers, followed immediately by an emergency brake test. I consistently reached around 100km/h by the time I reached the markers, then brought the car to a full stop. The acceleration is impressive on both the hybrid and EV, with the hybrid configuration feeling a little more charismatic. Stopping power is also good, with no complaints there.
The second obstacle was a moose test with a little switchback at the top of the course, which led to a sweeping left-hander on return to the start line. This was set out to slow the cars down on the way back in, but we aren’t about that. Our driving was limited to these courses, so best believe that we gave it beans all the way through. Dynamically, the Ora 5 handled sudden changes of direction well; it felt planted and confident, with minimal body roll. It reminded me of the Mini Cooper SE… Well, that is because GWM and BMW Group share a 50:50 manufacturing venture at a specialised production facility in Zhangjiagang, China, where the new electric Cooper SE is produced. Make of that what you will, but connecting the dots reveals why the Ora 5 has character and good manners.
Haval H7 Plus
The all-new Haval H7 Plus looks nothing like before. It’s chunkier, bigger and visually, at least, it looks pretty much geared towards adventure. That’s also partly thanks to its positioning as an adventure SUV, with the spec sheet revealing features such as a rear e-locking mechanical dog-clutch differential, which brings forward nifty tricks like Crawl Mode and TANK-Turn that we’ve seen in other GWM products. Exciting! Models on display had a foldable third-row seating. And looking at our comments section on social media, that’s an important consideration for our market, so fingers crossed.
Wey V9X
The most exciting part of the show for me, besides the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and the Tank 700, was the all-new Wey V9X. This will be the latest sub-brand to join GWM’s local lineup in SA, and one I’m particularly excited about. Will it take on the likes of the Germans? It could, yes. Is it worth looking forward to? I think it’s one of the most exciting cars set to hit our shores.
The Wey V9X is a premium luxury SUV that ticks almost every box you can think of. It’s a 6-seater with a set of captain’s chairs in the middle row, think V-Class luxury in an SUV. What’s not to like? I’m using the models on display as reference here, but if our SA versions are anything like what we’ve seen in Beijing, it could be a massive hit. For starters, you get doors that open and close with a push of a button… that’d be all four of them. And before you worry about hitting other cars or people with this feature, it’s got incredibly responsive sensors. A fold-out screen for the 2nd and 3rd row passengers is a fantastic feature for families that love the open road; heck, there’s even a massive infotainment screen that runs from the centre of the dash all the way to the passenger’s side with a split so that the front passenger essentially has a TV to watch too. Showgoers were literally watching movies in the cars on display to rest their feet. Wild.
Now you may think this is a car to be driven in, not driven, and while that can be true, it’s got a shockingly punchy drivetrain. Luckily, during our test drive at GWM’s testing facility, we got to take the V9X on a gymkhana course. Some spec? The V9X is a PHEV (plug-in hybrid) with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine at its core. There are three battery options, including 55.4kWh, 66.6kWh, and 80kWh packs, with the smaller battery setup having a total combined output of 510 kW and 862Nm, while the larger battery has a total output of 550kW and 930Nm. It’s big on power and was definitely noticeable on the quick sprint I had with it. And yes, it was still comfortable even though I had my right foot planted. Keep an eye out for this one, Saffas.
Stars of the Show
It’s clear that 2026 is going to be a mega year for GWM with three new arrivals set for South Africa, and since we’ve gone through them already, let’s take a quick look at the heroes that had everyone’s undivided attention.
Starting off with the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 housed in the chassis of what GWM is currently referring to as the ‘GF’ (Great Faith). Poised perfectly behind the driver’s seat, the V8 shines in its mid-mount configuration, revealing some interesting proportions. Big wheels, a carbon fibre drive shaft, and some hybridisation. It’s a fascinating layout and was a real pleasure to witness the workings of a future GT3 race car. You heard that right, GWM is planning to take its GF to GT3. Whether or not we’ll see a production supercar before or after that happens, only time will tell. But we are sure as hell excited about it.
Since we’re on the topic of a Chinese-manufactured V8, let’s talk about the Tank 700, another car that could potentially see this power unit in the future. The Tank 700 is a car you can’t help but admire, and one I personally believe will mark the tipping point in turning GWM into a legacy brand here in South Africa. After all, they have already served our market for 19 years and counting. The Tank 700 is a behemoth of a car with off-road and luxury in mind, and is almost reminiscent of a Gelandewagen, and trust me, the more conversations I had with international media, the more that reference was made.
The difference here is that the 700 has an abundance of space on the interior front, and despite being a large and heavy SUV, it’s surprisingly planted through a Gymkhana course and high-speed runs on the oval track at GWM’s testing facility. Yes, I got the privilege to take it for a spin, and my word, it is a proper car. It’s still anyone’s guess whether GWM will take the leap and produce a right-hand-drive version for certain markets, including ours, but this is where our collective voices matter. I, for one, want this car in South Africa. If you do too, let GWM hear you. It’s mega!
Words: Niki Louw
