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GWM is having a moment.
The Chinese maker is pumping out models in record time and its latest vehicle is aimed at Aussie favourites such as the Subaru Forester and Outback.
Dubbed the Haval Raptor, the tough looking four-wheel drive brings mean looks with a chunky styling, big bold grille, huge wheel and a tailgate mounted spare tyre and picks up where the tough GWM Tank 300 left off.
A hybrid version has been around for more than a year, but the Raptor now has an option to run on purely petrol power.
It uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that makes 175kW and is paired with a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels.
No torque figures are available just yet, but expect it to be upwards of 380Nm, as its stablemate the GWM Tank 300 uses the same capacity engine to make 162kW and 380Nm.
This variant joins the plug-in hybrid version that uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors to deliver a monstrous 282kW and 750Nm sent to all four wheels.
The Raptor is about 100mm shorter than the Prado and Everest, which puts it in a middle ground between full size off-roaders and mid-size SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester.
It will have some fairly handy off-road credentials with approach and departure angles of 25 and 32 degrees.
Four-wheel drive grip will make it competent off-road and it is expected to have multiple drive modes, too.
It is the latest in a line of Chinese off-road focused SUVs such as the Jetour Traveller that blend SUV pampering with adventuring capabilities.
GWM has shown it has some serious off-road chops with its Tank 300, which is more than capable of handling rough-tracks, so it is likely this Haval Raptor could live up to that car’s reputation.
There is no confirmation on whether the Raptor could come to Australia, but the brand has previously left the door open to a range of vehicles in its international portfolio.
If it did come to Australia it would likely have to be renamed so it doesn’t step on Ford’s toes.
The brand also revealed the surprise of the recent Shanghai motor show when it debuted a new 4.0-litre V8 engine for its cars. This kind of engine is aimed at heavy duty off-roaders and high-end models like the Tank 700. To comply with emissions regulations like Australia's NVES, it will be paired with a plug-in hybrid system.
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