- The car will be underpinned by a carbon fiber monocoque.
- It’s not clear what kind of powertrain the new model will have.
- A growing number of Chinese brands are releasing supercars.
As Chinese brands continue to dominate the market for affordable vehicles, some of its bigger brands are expanding into the world of sports cars and supercars. BYD sells its innovative all-electric Yangwang U9, while GAC has its Aion Hyptec SSR – and now GMW is getting ready to throw its hat into the race.
Great Wall Motor has dramatically expanded its range in recent years, but has so far remained focused on crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks. However, the Chinese carmaker has revealed it’s been working on a supercar for the past five years and believes it can be better than even the formidable Ferrari SF90 Stradale.
Watch: YangWang U9 Hits 244 MPH Top Speed, But Can’t Beat The Taycan At The Nurburgring
The chief financial officer of GWM, Wu Huixiao, made the revelation while speaking with a Chinese car blogger on social media last week. According to Wu, the new supercar will utilize a lightweight carbon fiber monocoque, although she acknowledged that difficulties with perfecting the car’s underpinnings have led to delays.
According to GWM, it has recruited track experts from Europe to help with the car’s development. Asked directly how it would compare to the almighty SF90, Wu claimed the brand’s first supercar would be better, acknowledging it will learn from its competitors. Not too long ago, GWM chairman Jack Wei was reportedly spotted behind the wheel of an SF90, and it seems the brand is very serious about competing with the most famous of all Italian supercar brands.
Keeping costs down is one of the most important parts of the project. In fact, Wu said that one of the main reasons why the car is taking so long is that GMW is determined to further lower costs, making it more affordable, CNEVPost reports.
It’s unclear what powertrain the car will use. At the recent Shanghai Auto Show, GWM unveiled a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that some of its future models will receive alongside a plug-in hybrid system. However, Great Wall is believed to have developed this engine with SUVs and trucks in mind placing an emphasis on towing abilities, so it’s not clear if it will also be the powertrain of choice for the upcoming supercar.
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