GWM's V8 for Australia keeps changing shape in the reporting, so here's the latest, straight from GWM. At the launch of the new Haval H7, GWM Australia and New Zealand chief operating officer John Kett was asked whether the brand's first V8 here would come with hybrid tech. His answer: "No, the V8 will be V8." He also said: "Certainly you'll see at least one V8 next year."
Key Takeaways
- GWM Australia's COO John Kett on the V8's hybrid tech: "No, the V8 will be V8"
- A V8 is due in 2027; GWM says it will name the model after Christmas
- The Tank 700 is the name that keeps coming up in reports, though Kett has also floated the Tank 800. GWM hasn't confirmed either
- No price, specs or ANCAP rating. A 2025 report put a top Tank 700 at up to $100,000 drive-away; that was an estimate, not a GWM figure
- GWM's flagship 4x4 here today is the Tank 500, from $65,990 drive-away (diesel Lux, GWM Australia)
- A non-hybrid V8 priced over $80,809 pays Luxury Car Tax (2026-27)
That matters because much of the reporting up to now expected the V8 to come with a plug-in hybrid system. Kett had hinted otherwise before, saying in mid-2026 he thought it would come as a "combustion V8", but this is the firmest answer yet. A straight V8 in a big body-on-frame Tank is a very different pitch. It's been framed as a Tank-badged rival to the Mercedes-AMG G 63, and as a cut-price alternative to the G 63 and the Land Rover Defender OCTA. GWM hasn't said that, but it's a fair read if the engine and the price land where the reports suggest.
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What GWM has actually said
Sorting the on-record quotes from the speculation helps, because there's a lot of the second.
- A V8 is coming in 2027. Kett has said so more than once. Asked whether it's coming, he replied "Yes. Next year", and in June he said, "I guarantee you're gonna see V8 in something next year."
- The first one won't be a hybrid. That's the "No, the V8 will be V8" line above, the newest comment and the one this story is about.
- The model hasn't been named. Kett said GWM "will tell you after Christmas which car it is".
- It was built with Australia in mind. At the Beijing motor show, GWM chairman Jack Wei said the V8 runs against the trend in China and was developed "to meet the needs of more global users, in markets such as Australia and New Zealand". He also said the Tank 700 will use "a normal V8", while GWM's supercar gets a high-performance one.
- It's a halo, not a volume seller. GWM Australia marketing boss Steve Maciver said: "are we going to sell V8s in volume in this country? No. Would we love to have it as a halo car? Absolutely."
What's only reported, and where the reports disagree
GWM hasn't published outputs, a transmission, a tow rating or a fuel figure for any V8 Tank. The numbers floating around come from media reports, not GWM, and they don't agree with each other. Here's what GWM has said next to what's only been reported.
| Question | GWM on record | Reported |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid or not? | "No, the V8 will be V8" (Kett); in mid-2026 Kett also said he thought it would be a "combustion V8" | It was reported in April that China gets traditional, hybrid and plug-in V8s and that GWM's Australian arm would likely want only the plug-in; a plug-in V8 was also expected in June reports. Not confirmed by GWM |
| Engine | A V8; "normal" for the Tank 700 (Wei) | 4.0-litre twin-turbo, in several reports; it's been reported it isn't clear whether the lower-output version keeps both turbos. Not confirmed by GWM |
| Output | Not published | Reported: 403kW for the V8 alone, or up to 735kW combined, and around 600kW and 1,000Nm for the supercar's plug-in V8. Not confirmed by GWM |
| Which model | To be named after Christmas; Kett said in mid-2026 he thought a Tank 800 would get it first | Tank 700, as reported; another Tank or a Cannon ute also mentioned. Not confirmed by GWM |
| Timing | 2027 | No month reported |
| Price | Not announced | A 2025 report put top Tank 700s at up to $100,000 drive-away; also framed as a cut-price alternative to the G 63 and Defender OCTA. Not confirmed by GWM |
Compare these picks side by side
6 of them on 200+ specs, price, safety and running cost in one view.
Each price is that car's stored figure with its basis and check date. Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Current price on CarSorted: GWM Tank 500 3.0L Turbo-Diesel $65,990 drive-away (VIC), as at 1 Oct 2026; GWM Tank 300 Lux Diesel $47,990 drive-away (VIC), as at 30 Oct 2026; Toyota LandCruiser 300 Sahara $139,310 RRP, as at 6 Sep 2026.
The 403kW and 735kW figures are better read as the two ends of the plug-in hybrid V8 story GWM has been telling in China, not as an Australian spec. If Australia's first V8 is a straight V8, the output that matters is the engine on its own, and GWM hasn't confirmed it.
Ways to buy
For the 4 cars on this page.
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Estimate on the GWM Tank 300 at $47,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
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Lease the GWM Tank 500Why a straight V8 is a bold call in 2027
The two big Japanese 4x4s Australians used to buy with a V8 have gone to six cylinders. The LandCruiser 300 has run a twin-turbo diesel V6 since it replaced the V8 200 Series, and Nissan's new Y63 Patrol swaps the old 5.6-litre petrol V8 for a twin-turbo V6. GWM is heading the other way, and the timing is interesting because of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, which charges a brand when its fleet average CO2 is over its target and credits it when it's under.
GWM is well placed for that game. A big chunk of what it sells here is plug-in hybrid or electric: the Tank 300 and Tank 500 Hi4-T, the Cannon Hi4-T ute, the Haval H6 and H7 plug-ins and the Ora EVs. Back in June Kett said the V8's volume forecast was conservative and hinged on whether those sales could offset its emissions. A small number of thirsty halo cars is easier to carry when the plug-ins are doing the heavy lifting. Maciver's "not in volume" comment fits that picture.
It also says something about the rest of the GWM line-up. Everything else on the way is electrified or diesel, and the brand is still adding plug-in versions of its 4x4s. The V8 looks like a one-off statement piece, not a change of direction.
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Where a V8 Tank would sit against what's on sale
Here's the field a V8 Tank would land in, from our directory. Prices carry their basis: the GWM prices are drive-away, while the others are list prices before on-road costs, so the gap to a GWM is bigger than the raw numbers suggest.
| Car | Engine | Power | Price (basis) |
|---|---|---|---|
| V8 SUVs on sale | |||
| Mercedes-AMG G 63 | 4.0 twin-turbo V8 petrol | 430kW | Not quoted (our row's price is being re-checked) |
| Land Rover Defender OCTA | Twin-turbo V8 petrol | 467kW | Not quoted (being re-checked) |
| Nissan Patrol Warrior (Y62, outgoing) | 5.6 V8 petrol | 298kW | $111,600 (RRP) |
| Big 4x4s that went six-cylinder | |||
| Toyota LandCruiser 300 Sahara | 3.3 twin-turbo V6 diesel | 227kW | $139,310 (RRP) |
| Nissan Patrol (Y63) (coming soon) | Twin-turbo V6 petrol | 317kW | $98,990 to $145,990 (MSRP, Nissan Australia) |
| GWM today | |||
| GWM Tank 500 Lux 3.0L diesel | 3.0 turbo four-cylinder diesel | 170kW | $65,990 (drive-away, VIC private) |
| GWM Tank 300 Lux Diesel | Turbo four-cylinder diesel | 135kW | $47,990 (drive-away, VIC private) |
Current price on CarSorted: Toyota LandCruiser 300 Sahara $139,310 RRP, as at 6 Sep 2026.
GWM prices are current offers from GWM Australia's website for a private buyer in Victoria (the Tank 300 price includes a $1,000 saving to 30 November 2026). RRP and MSRP prices are before on-road costs.
The obvious gap is between the Tank 500 at $65,990 drive-away and the V8 and six-cylinder big rigs above it, which mostly list at or above about $100,000 before on-road costs. That's the space a V8 Tank would most likely fill. Land it near $100,000 and it would undercut a LandCruiser 300 Sahara while offering something the Toyota no longer does, eight cylinders. Against the G 63 and Defender OCTA it wouldn't be a like-for-like rival on badge, cabin or performance until GWM publishes figures, but it could offer the look and the cylinder count for a fraction of the money. The car it may really steal buyers from is the outgoing V8 Patrol, as that engine leaves showrooms.
Cars in this story
6 cars
Price shown is each car's stored figure with its basis and check date. Images: Mercedes-Benz Australia. Overseas model shown..
See all GWM modelsWho it's for
Be honest with yourself about why you want one. A V8 Tank makes sense for three kinds of buyer:
- The V8 loyalist who's watched the Patrol and LandCruiser go six-cylinder and still wants eight, without G 63 money.
- The tourer who tows, if GWM gives it a tow rating to match a Tank 500 diesel. That's an if: nothing is published yet.
- The luxury 4x4 shopper who wants the boxy G-Wagen look and doesn't care about the badge on the grille.
Who should look elsewhere? If you cover big distances away from fuel, a petrol V8 in a heavy 4x4 will drink, and diesel still goes further between servos. If you mostly drive in town, the Tank 500 Hi4-T plug-in hybrid will cost far less to run day to day. And if resale matters to you, there's no track record yet for a six-figure GWM.
The tax side: LCT and FBT
Price will decide how much tax a V8 Tank carries. For 2026-27, Luxury Car Tax applies above $80,809 for other vehicles and above $91,661 for fuel-efficient cars, which now means 3.5L/100km or less on the official combined test. A straight V8 won't get anywhere near 3.5L/100km, so the lower threshold applies.
LCT is 33% of the amount over the threshold, after the GST in that excess is taken out. If a V8 Tank had an LCT value of $100,000 (broadly its GST-inclusive price before on-road costs), the indicative LCT would be about $5,757 (that's $19,191 over the line, times 10/11, times 33%). That's normally baked into a drive-away price, so you'd pay it whether or not it's itemised. Each $10,000 above the threshold adds roughly $3,000 of LCT.
Here's where the hybrid question bites. A plug-in V8 that tested at 3.5L/100km or under would get the higher $91,661 threshold. On a car priced at $100,000, that would cut the indicative LCT to about $2,502, a saving of roughly $3,250. GWM's answer suggests the launch V8 won't get that break.
On a novated lease, nothing helps. The electric-car FBT exemption covers zero-emissions cars only, and plug-in hybrids lost it for cars first held from 1 April 2025, so a V8 Tank, hybrid or not, would be taxed under the normal FBT rules. Our lease calculator shows what that does to the weekly cost, and the LCT threshold explainer has the full table.
Luxury car tax and FBT figures current as of 13 November 2026
Thresholds, rebates and rules on this page change each financial year. We check them against the ATO, but always confirm the current position with the relevant authority before you sign.
What to watch for
- The model reveal after Christmas. Tank 700 and Tank 800 are the names in the frame; a Cannon ute would change the price bracket.
- Outputs and the gearbox. Reports so far mix up the plug-in V8 and the straight one. Wait for GWM Australia's own figures.
- Braked towing and payload. A big petrol V8 4x4 lives or dies on its tow rating. The Tank 500 diesel sets GWM's current bar.
- Fuel use and tank size. Look for the official combined figure and real touring range.
- The price basis. GWM quotes drive-away; Mercedes, Land Rover and Toyota list before on-roads.
- ANCAP. ANCAP hasn't rated a V8 Tank. A new model needs its own test.
- Warranty and servicing for an all-new engine, which GWM will need to back hard to win over V8 buyers.
What we still don't know
- Which model gets the V8 first, and in which grades
- Power, torque, transmission and fuel figures for a non-hybrid V8
- Australian price, launch month and how many will come
- Whether a plug-in V8 follows later, here or only in China
- Tow rating, payload and ANCAP result
What this means for buyers
If you want a big GWM 4x4 now, the Tank 500 diesel and the Tank 500 Hi4-T are what you can actually buy, and neither is going anywhere when a V8 lands. If you're a V8 buyer who was about to sign for a run-out V8 Patrol or stretch to a G 63, it's worth knowing a GWM alternative is on the way, but with no price, no specs and no confirmed model, it isn't a reason to wait unless you can wait well into 2027. We'll update this page when GWM Australia names the car. Meanwhile, line up the current big 4x4s on Ford Everest vs Tank 500, plan a tow with TowingSorted, or read our Tank 500 review and best towing vehicles guide.
Compare what's on sale now
Head-to-heads with the cars this story is about and their closest rivals on sale now, plus the buying guides that cover them.
- Nissan Patrol vs Toyota LandCruiser 300
- Toyota LandCruiser 300 vs Land Rover Defender 110
- Toyota LandCruiser 300 vs Audi Q7
- GWM Tank 500 vs Ford Everest
- GWM Tank 500 vs Lexus NX
- GWM Tank 500 vs Toyota Kluger
- Nissan Patrol vs Land Rover Range Rover Velar
- Nissan Patrol vs BMW X3
Buying guides
- Best Plug-in Hybrid SUVs in Australia 2027: One Winner Per Question
- Best Electric SUVs in Australia 2026
- Best Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) Utes in Australia 2026: Cannon Alpha vs Shark 6 vs Ranger
- Best Electric Luxury SUV Australia 2026
Or pick any two cars on our compare page, or browse the full car directory.
Shopping for a GWM now?
The facts, side by side. Your decision.
Disclaimer: GWM Australia has said a V8 model is coming in 2027 and that the first one won't be a hybrid. It has not confirmed the model, specifications, price or timing. Engine, output and price figures described as reported are not GWM figures and may change. Current prices come from our directory with the basis shown and can change without notice. The LCT figure is indicative only.
