GWM has fired an early salvo in the impending hybrid ute wars with the launch of a bigger and more powerful addition to its dual-cab 4x4 ute range in the shape of the Cannon Alpha, which arrives with both hybrid and turbodiesel powertrains.

The Chinese car maker is the first to introduce a full hybrid-electric ute that’s capable of driving the wheels on electric power alone, as opposed to the mild-hybrid systems already available on the Toyota HiLux and Ram 1500 V8.

The new Cannon Alpha is offered with a choice of a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel or a 2.0-litre turbo petrol hybrid, with the latter positioned as the range-topping engine in a three-variant lineup.

The hybrid offers combined outputs of 255kW/648Nm, which is not far off the locally reengineered RAM pickup, which extracts 291kW/556Nm from its 5.7-litre petrol V8.

The other engine in the range is a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel that delivers a competitive 135kW/480Nm, comparable to the 154kW/500Nm outputs of the 2.0-litre bi-turbo turbodiesel fitted to the market-leading Ford Ranger.

GWM has stated that the focus of its hybrid technology is more about improving driving performance than efficiency, which is a convenient position given that the hybrid’s claimed 9.8L/100km combined cycle consumption is higher than the diesel’s 8.9L/100km.

Both engines are mated to a GWM-developed nine-speed automatic transmission which drives the rear wheels, or all-four wheels via a Borg Warner 4x4 transfer case and on demand all-terrain system with three driving modes.

Impressive off-road performance seems assured, with the Cannon Alpha boasting all the requisite clearances for traversing tough terrain plus locking front and rear differentials.

Despite its somewhat confusing nomenclature, the Cannon Alpha is physically larger than GWM’s established Cannon Ute, riding as it does on a wheelbase that’s 120mm longer at 3350mm, while its overall length (+35mm), width (+57mm) and height (+38mm) are also expanded over its stablemate.

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Dimensional comparisons with the popular Ford Ranger Wildtrak also favour the Cannon Alpha, with the Ford riding on a 3270mm wheelbase, measuring 5370mm in overall length, and standing 1,886mm tall.

The Cannon Alpha is not as big as full-size US pickups like the RAM and Chevy Silverado, However, prompting GWM to claim it sits in a “Goldilocks zone” between the two different size utes.

Crucially, all variants offer a braked towing capacity of 3,500kg, making this the first GWM ute to match the load-hauling ability of category rivals like HiLux and Ranger.

More sheet metal usually means more weight and the Cannon Alpha tips the scales at around 400kg heavier than the Cannon Ute, meaning payload comes in at between 735kg and 821kg, depending on which of the three variants you’re looking at.

Prices start at $51,990 driveaway for the Cannon Alpha Lux diesel, rising to $57,990 driveaway for the Cannon Alpha Ultra diesel, and top out at
$64,990 for the Cannon Alpha Ultra Hybrid.

In each case the pricing is especially sharp compared with non-Chinese ute brands, with the Cannon Alpha also boasting a generous list of standard features and an after-sales package that includes seven years unlimited kilometres warranty, seven years roadside assist and seven years capped priced servicing.

Stylistically, GWM’s new ute is a handsome-looking beast with suitably rugged exterior design cues and several distinctive design features including an unusual barn-door style tailgate.

The tailgate is split 60/40 into two sections which are electronically operated via a button on the rear tailgate.

The expanded dimensions translate into an impressively roomy cabin which includes a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 10-speaker Infinity premium audio, wireless phone charging, and heated, ventilated and massaging front seats in luxurious Nappa leather in the top-spec Ultra grade.

The Cannon Alpha certainly won’t be the last hybrid ute we see, as car makers scramble to prepare for the introduction of the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).

The NVES comes into effect at the start of 2025 and will make it more challenging for brands to sell high-emitting vehicles.

It joins GWM’s growing list of low and zero-emission models which includes the Jolion Hybrid, H6 Hybrid, Tank 300 Hybrid, Tank 500 Hybrid, and the battery electric Ora.