Believe It or Not, China Built a New Twin-Turbo V-8

Much has been said this past week about all the electric vehicles debuting at Auto Shanghai in China. The region definitely loves EVs, but internal combustion power isn’t dead yet. In fact, Great Wall Motors (GWM) pulled the covers off a new engine. And it’s not some small three-cylinder econo-mill. Feast your eyes on GWM’s new twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine.

Sadly, there are no details regarding output. A report from WhichCar states it incorporates a dual fuel injection system and dual oil pumps, with a rev limiter of 8,000 rpm. That doesn’t sound like a low-and-slow workhorse, but it’s not entirely without electrification. This engine will be part of a plug-in hybrid powertrain destined for use in multiple vehicles. A single electric motor is installed between the engine and transmission, allowing for electric-only operation.

The engine is aimed at luxury vehicles and, SUVs, and trucks where extra power for towing is needed, reports WhichCar. The hybrid component allows for clean in-city driving while adding extra punch for highway use. Presumably, multiple tunings will give the engine enough flexibility to work as both a workhorse and a high-performance highway star. But it launches in an off-roader from GWM called the Tank 300—a luxury SUV with shades of Mercedes G-Class in its boxy styling.

Curiously, it was GWM’s Australian arm that shared the engine on social media. GWM has a strong presence in Australia with a wide range of SUVs and trucks, including the Tank. It’s currently sold there with either a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a 2.4-liter turbo diesel, or you can have the 2.0-liter mill with a hybrid powertrain. A special edition Tank 300 was shown at Auto Shanghai, but it’s unclear if that model will be the first to have the V-8.

Photo by: Great Wall Motors

Will this engine ever come to North America? The report claims GWM has thought about it, but given the current political climate and tariff war between the US and China, that likely won’t happen anytime soon—if ever.