Home / Features / New GWM Shanhai Cannon confirmed for South Africa – What you can expect to pay

New GWM Shanhai Cannon confirmed for South Africa – What you can expect to pay

The new GWM Shanhai Cannon is coming to South Africa and will be positioned above the popular P-Series as a more premium offering.

The Cannon will arrive toward the second half of the year, with its starting price currently planned to be “just over R800,000,” the Chinese automaker’s domestic subsidiary confirmed to TopAuto.

What to expect

Unveiled in December 2022 in China, the Shanhai Cannon is billed as the largest and most upmarket model in the automaker’s bakkie stable.

Standing 5,440mm long, 1,991mm wide, and 1,924mm tall it is 30mm longer and 57mm wider, but 10mm lower than the P-Series which itself isn’t a small vehicle by South African standards.

At present, the new double cab is available with two drivetrains comprising a 3.0-litre, V6, turbocharged petrol and a 2.4-litre, turbo-diesel alternative; the former generating 260kW and 500Nm and the latter 135kW and 480Nm.

The power units are coupled with a nine-speed automatic transmission and 4×4 system, and enable the bakkie to tow up to a maximum of 3.3 tonnes.

Later on, the Shanhai Cannon will also be launched with hybrid and electric drive, but the company has yet to provide a timeline for these derivatives.

The Cannon’s interior boasts a smattering of “leather-like” materials in addition to a 14.6-inch central control screen; a 12.3-inch driver’s instrument cluster; heated, ventilated, and massaging seats; and electronically sliding rear seats.

A suite of assistance systems is further included such as intelligent entering/exiting ramps, lane-change protection, distraction and fatigue monitoring, avoidance of large vehicles, and identification of confusing intersections.

For added versatility, the GWM double cab features a split tailgate that opens downwards like a traditional bakkie, as well as sideways.

Once it goes on sale in South Africa, odds are the Shanhai Cannon will have a different name like its sibling which is called the Poer (pronounced Power) in Asian markets but, for obvious reasons, was changed to P-Series locally.

Australia’s Carsales reports that the Shanhai Cannon could be badged as the Cannon Alpha in the Oceanic market, hinting at a possible naming scheme for ours.


GWM Shanhai Cannon


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