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The 2026 GWM Cannon vary has been revealed in China, led by a heavy-duty ‘Off-road’ bundle to higher problem the likes of the Ford Ranger Raptor, Nissan Navara Warrior and upcoming Toyota HiLux GR Sport.
Reported by Automotive Information China, the up to date Cannon was revealed late final week on the Guangzhou Worldwide Auto Present, simply days after the plug-in hybrid Nissan Frontier Professional dual-cab – a key rival – was confirmed for Australia.
Whereas the modifications for the 2026 mannequin 12 months (MY26) Cannon (nee Poer) in China largely replicate the prevailing variations offered right here, a hardcore off-road bundle that winds up the dual-cab ute’s off-road capability was additionally launched in its home market.
GWM Australia advised CarExpert it’s eager to develop the native Cannon lineup, with a spokesperson saying the off-road bundle is “into account for the ANZ [Australia, New Zealand] markets, however no last determination has but been made on timing”.
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The Australian GWM Cannon lineup already includes the extra adventurous XSR mannequin grade, which incorporates all-terrain tyres amongst its normal tools, however the brand new choices in China for the MY26 Cannon go a lot additional.
Along with all-terrain tyres, off-road mods embrace a 3mm ‘chassis armour’ to guard the ladder-frame chassis, a front-mounted T-Max winch, and Okay-Man branded nitrogen shock absorbers, plus a snorkel.
As a part of the bundle, there’s additionally off-road aspect steps and metal bumpers at each ends, which can or might not adjust to Australian Design Guidelines (ADRs).
The Cannon Off-road bundle provides 228mm of floor clearance – the identical because the Cannon-XSR and up from the usual mannequin’s 194mm, however shy of the Ford Ranger Raptor’s 272mm – in addition to 500mm water wading and 9 driving modes together with an Skilled, Rock in addition to Snow, Sand and Mud settings.
The Borg Warner 4×4 system contains entrance, centre and rear differential locks.
There’s additionally a creeper rock-crawling mode for the Off-road Cannon, which has the identical 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen and 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster discovered within the Australian XSR.
There’s no change to the 135kW/480Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel and nine-speed automated with two-speed switch case, a powertrain mixture it shares with the GWM Tank 300 in native showrooms.
The Cannon-XSR was the mannequin variant that efficiently scrambled up Beer O’clock Hill at The Springs 4×4 Park in Queensland after the proprietor of a BYD Shark 6 was unable to barter the infamous hill climb.
Beer O’clock Hill was additionally used to indicate off the Kia Tasman’s functionality in June 2025, after the Korean model’s first dual-cab ute went on sale in Australia.
The Cannon has been the best-selling pickup in China for 27 consecutive years, however is comprehensively outsold by market-leading HiLux, Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and different utes in Australia.
In September 2025, a single-cab Cannon 4×4 – powered by a twin-turbocharged petrol V6 – was unveiled in China, and GWM Australia can be evaluating it for native showrooms, though it’s but to launch and two-door variations of the Cannon right here.
“It’s of curiosity and we’ll take a look at it however in the end it’ll come down a few issues,” GWM Australia advertising and marketing chief Steve Maciver advised CarExpert on the time.
“Do we expect there’s demand there for a single-cab ute and at what value level? After all, the dual-cab possibility would offer a bigger alternative.
“As well as, we now stay in an atmosphere the place we’ve to contemplate NVES [New Vehicle Efficiency Standard].
“We’re well-placed with sturdy hybrid and plug-in hybrid choices throughout the vary and if we will proceed rising share with these powertrains, inner combustion choices like a V6 might turn out to be a risk.”
MORE: Discover the GWM Cannon showroom
