Great Wall Motors intends to introduce an off-road-oriented version of its 2026 GWM Cannon Alpha XSR diesel ute to Australian showrooms before the year ends, with deliveries slated for the Christmas period.
Engine and powertrain
The new grade will be equipped with the brand’s 3.0-litre single-turbo four-cylinder diesel that produces 170 kW and 620 Nm of torque. This power unit first appeared in the standard Cannon Alpha and the Tank 500 earlier this month.
Official comment
“The Cannon Alpha XSR diesel will be coming within the next couple of months… you’ll be seeing that shortly,” said Steve Maciver, head of marketing and communications for GWM Australia, to Drive.
Design cues and equipment
Industry sources indicate the Australian XSR will echo the Chinese-market Shanhai “Cannon Mountain and Sea” edition and the smaller Cannon XSR. Expected exterior changes include 18-inch alloy wheels paired with all-terrain tyres, a steel bumper fitted with red recovery hooks, and matte-black body cladding.
Additional details may feature a snorkel, tubular side steps, a black sports bar, black suede interior headlining and yellow accent trim. The bumper design is likely to omit several safety aids, meaning the model will not retain the five-star ANCAP rating held by the standard ute.
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While the Cannon Alpha Vanta diesel is priced from $63,990 drive-away and sits on 19-inch alloy wheels with Continental highway-terrain tyres, the XSR’s pricing and exact specifications will be announced closer to its showroom debut. The Vanta price serves as a reference point for the upcoming model.
Because the model will have a steel bumper and a reduced electronic safety suite, it will miss features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, side-exit warning and emergency lane-keep assist that contribute to the five-star rating.
The Vanta variant lists a 945 kg payload, a 28.5-degree approach angle, a 19-degree breakover angle, a 23-degree departure angle and 224 mm of ground clearance. The Cannon Alpha XSR may differ from the Vanta diesel in payload, off-road angles, and ground clearance.
Current GWM Cannon Alpha 3.0-litre diesel models range from $58,990 for the Lux trim up to $63,990 for the Vanta. The upcoming XSR will join this lineup later in the year, with final pricing to be confirmed as Australian deliveries near.