The GWM Shanhai Cannon is a full-size high-performance luxury pick-up truck under the GWM POER brand. Built on Great Wall Motor's intelligent off-road TANK platform, it is positioned as China's first full-size high-performance luxury pick-up truck. The moniker "Shanhai Cannon" was selected via a global co-creation initiative with consumers, reflecting the shared passion of both owners and the GWM POER brand to push boundaries. The pick-up made its debut at the Chengdu Motor Show in August 2022 before officially going on sale at the Guangzhou Auto Show in December that same year. At launch, the petrol variants were priced between RM258,800 and RM301,800, while the turbodiesel options ranged from RM228,800 to RM248,800. In June 2025, the Shanhai Cannon Hi4-T plug-in hybrid (PHEV) was officially introduced, with the Global Edition pre-sold at RM228,800 and the Performance Edition at RM249,800. As of 2025, GWM Pickup has retained the top pick-up sales spot in China for 27 consecutive years; serving as the flagship model, the Shanhai Cannon spearheads the brand's strategic move upmarket into the premium pick-up segment.
The exterior styling of the Shanhai Cannon carries forward the rugged, imposing design language of the GWM POER family, highlighted by an expansive darkened front grille with distinctive brand signatures. The front LED panther-eye headlights incorporate multi-element lighting modules, which, together with the broad front fascia and muscular bonnet power bulges, accentuate its hardcore pick-up stance. The Performance Edition introduces an exclusive "Golden Armor" body colour, symbolising an adventurous, boundary-pushing off-road spirit, complemented by a heavy-duty steel front bumper and red recovery hooks that heighten its aggressive off-road aesthetics.
Inside, the cabin features extensive soft-touch materials paired with satin chrome trims, anchored by a floating dual-screen layout comprising a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen for a high-end visual and tactile experience. The cabin incorporates innovative sound-insulating engineering, including a dual rear bulkhead design, concealed rear door shutlines, double-glazed acoustic glass, and an aerodynamic tailgate spoiler to significantly improve NVH refinement. The cargo bed debuts an industry-first 60:40 barn-door split and conventional drop-down dual-action tailgate: the side-hinged split doors allow effortless access to cargo, while the drop-down tailgate serves as a sturdy outdoor seat.
The Shanhai Cannon is offered with a choice of powertrains. The petrol range features an in-house developed 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine—crowned one of the "China Heart" Top Ten Engines in 2022—delivering a maximum output of 260 kW and 500 Nm of peak torque. The V6 powerplant provides robust low-end grunt, delivering 340 Nm at just 1,000 rpm and reaching its full 500 Nm torque plateau at 1,500 rpm. This is paired with GWM's proprietary longitudinal 9-speed automatic transmission (9AT), engineered to handle up to 750 Nm of torque with a driveline efficiency of up to 97%. A 2.4-litre turbodiesel variant is also available to cater to buyers seeking oil-burner torque and efficiency.
The Shanhai Cannon Hi4-T PHEV, launched in June 2025, is built on the Hi4-T off-road hybrid architecture. It combines a 2.0-litre Miller-cycle turbo-four petrol engine with a 9-speed hybrid automatic transmission (9HAT) and an integrated P2 electric motor, producing a total system output of 300 kW and 750 Nm, completing the 0-100 km/h century sprint in 7.2 seconds. Power is supplied by a 37.1 kWh ternary lithium-ion battery pack, delivering an NEDC pure electric range of 115 km and an overall cruising range exceeding 1,000 km, with an NEDC combined fuel consumption of just 1.7 L/100 km and a charge-depleted consumption of 7.9 L/100 km. It supports 50 kW DC fast charging, allowing a 30% to 80% state of charge in 24 minutes.
The Shanhai Cannon uses a rugged ladder-frame chassis with double-wishbone independent front suspension and a multi-link solid rear axle, striking a balance between off-road capability and on-road ride quality. The front suspension incorporates lightweight aluminium alloy components to deliver sharper handling and suspension response. The vehicle also boasts an impressive maximum wading depth of 800 mm to 900 mm.
For the drivetrain, a BorgWarner 4A+MLOCK intelligent 4WD system is fitted as standard across the range, offering an on-demand 4A automatic mode, a rigidly lockable 4H mode, and a low-range 4L mode for torque multiplication. It features electronically controlled dog-clutch differential locks on both front and rear axles, providing a true triple-differential lock setup. The all-terrain management system offers 9 drive modes: Standard, Sport, Eco, Snow, Mud, Sand, Expert, 4L, and Rock, alongside off-road features such as Tank Turn, Off-Road Cruise Control, and a Wading Depth Detection system. The Performance Edition adds factory-fitted heavy-duty gear, including K-MAN nitrogen shock absorbers, 18-inch all-terrain (A/T) tyres, and a 12,500-lb T-MAX front electric winch.
The Shanhai Cannon's cabin is fitted with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch floating infotainment touchscreen, supporting continuous voice command recognition, remote telematics, satellite navigation screencasting, and HiCar/ICCOA smartphone integration. Tactile physical switches are retained for climate control and drive mode selection to ensure intuitive and safe operation on the move. Standard across the range are a digital streaming rear-view mirror, connected car services, and high-accuracy conversational voice control.
The seats are upholstered in premium leather, with the front seats featuring 8-way power adjustment, heating, ventilation, memory settings, and a welcome function. In an industry first, the rear seats feature electric adjustment in a 4+2+4 split; the outboard seats slide electrically with a backrest recline angle of up to 33 degrees—rivaling or surpassing many passenger SUVs—complete with extended lateral bolsters for superior shoulder support. Additional cabin comforts include 64-colour ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, front wireless charging, rear air vents, and an integrated air purifier with PM2.5 filtration, bringing passenger SUV levels of luxury and refinement to the pick-up segment.
The Shanhai Cannon delivers impressive safety performance, constructed with a high-strength safety cell utilising 64.3% high-strength steel and equipped with 6 airbags. In December 2024, the Shanhai Cannon achieved a full five-star C-NCAP safety rating with an overall score of 89.5%, making it the first pick-up truck to attain five-star certification under the stricter C-NCAP 2024 assessment protocols. Notably, it scored full marks (16.000/16, or 100%) in the Mobile Deformable Barrier (MDB) side impact test. Prior to this, the pick-up earned a five-star ANCAP safety rating in Australasia and secured top 'Good' (G) ratings across three major categories in the CIRI C-IASI crash assessments, ranking among the safest domestic pick-ups tested.
In terms of driver assistance, the Shanhai Cannon comes standard with Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), comprising Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Centring Assist (LCA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), and Driver Fatigue Monitoring, alongside Smart Cruise Assist. A 360-degree surround-view camera system with a transparent chassis display is also standard to enhance all-round visibility. Selected variants can be optioned with the Coffee Pilot suite, which enables Highway Assist (HWA) and automated lane change capabilities.
Since its debut, the Shanhai Cannon has established a solid reputation in the premium pick-up segment by delivering on its core pillars of high performance, luxury refinement, and lifestyle versatility. In 2024, annual deliveries of the Shanhai Cannon reached 12,500 units. As the flagship model in GWM Pickup's premium strategy, it has maintained robust domestic demand while spearheading global expansion; the HEV variant launched in Australia and Thailand in 2024, while the Shanhai Cannon Hi4-T PHEV has rolled out in markets such as Australia and Chile, playing a vital role in GWM's international footprint.
From an industry standpoint, the 3.0T V6 powerplant won the prestigious "China Heart" Top Ten Engines award for 2022, recognising GWM's proprietary powertrain engineering. The pick-up has also secured dual five-star crash ratings from both C-NCAP and ANCAP alongside top-tier C-IASI safety scores, making it one of the most comprehensively crash-tested pick-up trucks in the market. The subsequent rollout of the Performance Edition in 2023, the Overland Edition in 2024, and the Hi4-T hybrid has significantly strengthened the nameplate's line-up while kick-starting pick-up electrification. Against established segment rivals such as the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, the Shanhai Cannon stands out with its superior cabin luxury, robust powertrains, and cutting-edge tech, serving as a benchmark for Chinese carmakers moving into the premium pick-up arena.
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