GWM Cannon Hi4-T Plug-in Hybrid Ute Confirmed for Australia with 3.5T Towing and Full-Sized Spare

GWM Australia has officially confirmed the mid-sized Cannon Ute will receive the advanced Hi4-T plug-in hybrid powertrain, with a local arrival slated for the middle of 2026.

The announcement addresses a significant engineering hurdle recently seen on the larger Cannon Alpha PHEV, which famously lost its under-body spare tyre to the battery housing.

By redesigning the battery layout for the standard Cannon, GWM has ensured that a full-sized spare wheel will remain tucked under the vehicle, leaving the tray entirely free for traditional work duties.

Under the bonnet, the Cannon Hi4-T is expected to mirror the heavy-hitting specifications of the recently detailed Tank 300 Hi4-T.

This means a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with a powerful 120kW electric motor, pumping out a combined system output of 300kW and a massive 750Nm of torque.

Channelling that power through a nine-speed hybrid automatic transmission (9HAT), the Cannon PHEV will become the most powerful mid-sized ute in the GWM stable, comfortably outmuscling the 135kW/480Nm 2.4-litre turbo-diesel found in the current 2025 Cannon range.

The brand is positioning the Hi4-T system as a genuine "substitution" for diesel rather than just an urban fuel-saver, leaning on its mechanical four-wheel-drive linkage to provide authentic off-road capability.

Unlike many "e-axle" hybrids that lack a physical connection between the front and rear wheels, the Cannon Hi4-T uses a BorgWarner transfer case to maintain performance in heavy sand and mud.

GWM executives noted that this technology is the cornerstone of their strategy to meet upcoming efficiency standards while still delivering the "wow" performance Australian buyers expect.

Crucially for the local market, GWM has locked in a class-leading 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity for the Cannon Hi4-T, matching its diesel stablemates and exceeding many current electrified rivals.

This confirmation aims to soothe "range and power anxiety" among traditional ute buyers who have been hesitant to switch to plug-in technology due to perceived towing limitations.

It will almost certainly adopt the same 37.11kWh battery seen in other Hi4-T models like the Cannon Alpha PHEV, Tank 300 Hi4-T and Tank 500 Hi4-T, meaning the ute is likely to offer over 100km of electric-only driving range as well as up to 6.6kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability.

Based on the existing product hierarchy, the Cannon Hi4-T is anticipated to arrive in two trim levels: Lux and Ultra.

To maintain a logical price gap below the "lifestyle" Tank 300 Hi4-T ($55,990) and the larger Cannon Alpha PHEV (which has an RRP of $63,990 but has seen promotional pricing as low as $53,490), the standard Cannon Hi4-T is projected to sit in the $48,000 to $52,000 drive-away range.

This positioning allows GWM to offer a high-performance electrified workhorse that sits just above the diesel Cannon Vanta ($45,490) while remaining more accessible than the premium-heavy Tank 300 and Cannon Alpha models.

The vehicle will also benefit from a significant amount of local engineering input from veteran chassis specialist Rob Trubiani, who is now refining more than just the suspension.

His remit has expanded into transmission calibration and ADAS safety tuning to ensure the hybrid system feels composed and "Australian" on our unique regional roads.

This focus on local refinement is part of GWM's broader push to move beyond its value-brand roots and become a top-five automotive player in Australia by 2030.