Great Wall is taking a leaf out of Mercedes-Benz’s playbook and readying a remarkable version of the Shanhai Cannon pickup truck with six wheels.

Mercedes-Benz made the most dramatic of all statements in 2013 with the launch of the limited-run G 63 6×6 and while just over 100 examples were produced, it triggered a new fascination for high-end vehicles with three axles and six wheels. Numerous aftermarket firms like Hennessey now sells six-wheeled pickup trucks and Great Wall is now getting in on the action.

Read: Great Wall’s Shanhai Cannon Is Its First Hybrid Pickup Truck

A prototype of the six-wheeled Shanhai Cannon was recently snapped during testing. To accommodate a third axle, Great Wall has lengthened the bed of the pickup and also looks to have jacked up the ride height. The prototype does not feature any front and rear wheel arches but that’s simply because they haven’t been installed, not because it won’t have any when it hits the market.

Xincheping

An image shared online by Car News China shows what the Shanhai Cannon 6×6 will look like when it hits the market. This image was taken from a presentation given to Great Wall motors and shows that in addition to getting two extra wheels, the 6×6 will sport pronounced black wheel arch extensions and a black sports bar in the bed.

Reports state that the Shanhai Cannon will be powered by the same 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 as the standard model, meaning it will pump out 360 hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. Mated to this engine is a nine-speed automatic transmission that will inevitably send power to all six wheels.

Great Wall initially intended on launching the Shanhai Cannon 6×6 in May 2021 but it was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is now expected to hit the local market in the second half of 2023.

Images Xincheping